“And how do you feel about that?” Van brushes my hair back and smooths his thumb down the side of my neck. “Being the one they looked to for help to make the decision?”

“We’re all in this together, so that definitely makes it easier. I don’t feel as though the decision rests solely on my shoulders. We made it as a family. And I know that Billy might be upset now, but I’m hoping with time and treatment he’ll see that we did this because we care about him.” I lean into him, letting those words sink in. “That’s what it’s always been like with my family. We back each other up.”

“That’s good. I’m glad you have that.” There’s wistfulness in his tone.

“Me too. I don’t know if I would have been able to make that decision on my own. Leaving my brother at the hospital was so hard; I just wanted to wrap him up in love and keep him safe, but I knew I couldn’t do that for him. Having my parents there as a support was a big help.” I squeeze his hand, aware that our family situations are vastly different. “I’m sorry about your brother,” I add. “I can’t imagine how you feel, or how hard this is for you. Family are supposed to take care of each other.” I tip my chin up as he tips his down.

Our gazes meet, and something shifts in the air around us. A new kind of tension sparks and crackles between us. A connection that wasn’t there before, so much more intense this time.

“I could be that for you,” I whisper. “The person you can count on not to let you down.”

“You already are, Dillion.” He cups my cheek in his palm and dips down and presses his lips to mine. “You’re the best part of my day and the one person I look forward to seeing more than anyone else. I’m lucky to have you in my life.”

This time when he comes back for a kiss, it’s a soft lingering one that sends warmth rushing through my veins, and heat settles low in my belly, sparking need. He deepens the kiss, and when it’s clear it’s about to become more, he takes me to his bedroom. We undress slowly, paying special attention to each other’s most sensitive spots, until we’re both panting and desperate.

He settles between my thighs and enters me on a slow stroke. “I love this,” he groans against my lips. He pushes up on his forearm, his eyes meeting mine, soft and vulnerable. “I love you.”

My heart clenches, and my breath catches in my throat for a moment before I murmur, “I love you too.”

I wrap my legs around his waist, and we move together, a slow tide rising until bliss washes over us.

CHAPTER 26

DOWN WE GO

Van

The days and weeks that follow are hectic and stressful for Dillion. Not only is she worried for her brother in the hospital being treated for a psychiatric condition, but the threat from my brother hangs over both of our heads. It makes us edgy.

While Bernie and I push back against my brother contesting the will and my father attempts to talk some sense into him—which is proving futile—Teagan is trying to hack into his email and see if she can’t find information that way. She hasn’t spent a great deal of time on computer hacking, though, so it’s not necessarily the most effective sleuthing either of us has engaged in.

With everything going on, I do my best to be there for Dillion, aware that she’s the kind of person who tends to try to manage everything on her own. But I want to give her a shoulder to lean on, as she’s been doing for me.

Three weeks after they admit Billy to the hospital, they have a formal diagnosis. He has bipolar disorder, and the hallucinations were a manifestation of the combination of medication, alcohol, and insomnia. The withdrawal wasn’t easy on him, but once alcohol was removed from the equation and they started him on medication (which will need to be monitored closely in the coming weeks), they agreed to release him as an outpatient. He has to attend therapy sessions several times a week, but he can sleep in his own bed. And he’s excited about eating something other than hospital food.

Dillion is sitting cross-legged on the couch, hugging one of Grammy Bee’s embroidered pillows. “I think we should throw him a little party. Nothing big, just a ‘Welcome home’ and ‘We love you’ kind of thing. The past few weeks have been tough, and he’s worked hard to be able to come home. I want him to know we’ve got his back and we’re proud of him, you know?”

“I think that’s a great idea. Do you want it to be family?”

“And a few close friends. Aaron has been to the hospital every day since they started letting Billy have visitors, so he should definitely come. And obviously you need to be there, since you found him down at the lake.”

I’ve been to visit Billy a bunch of times since he was admitted. At first I went with Dillion, but after a few visits I started going on my own. We talk construction and play basketball on the outdoor court. He beats me every single time. Although he does have about four inches on me.

“I can be there. Absolutely. Just tell me what you need help with, and I’ll do it.”

“I’ll make a few phone calls, and then you can help me make a cake!” She hops up off the couch and plucks her phone from the end table. First she calls her parents, who are on board with the welcome-home party; then she calls Aaron and a couple of Billy’s other friends who have been supportive over the past few weeks.

Once the calls are made and some food is ordered, she pulls out Bee’s KitchenAid mixer, circa the nineties, and we get to work making a cake and icing from scratch. Three hours and a lot of me dipping my finger into the buttercream icing and getting hit with a spatula on the back of the hand later, we have a WELCOME HOME cake.

Dillion stands with her hands on her hips, frowning. “It looks like a pair of preschoolers decorated this.”

I kiss her on the temple. “But the icing and the cake taste delicious, and that’s way more important. Besides, it means more because it’s homemade. He’s going to love it.”

Twenty minutes later she gets the call that her parents are picking up Billy and that people are on the way to their house. We bring the cake over to her parents’ place and find Aaron already standing in the driveway, holding a bottle of fizzy grape juice with a bow on it and a platter of meat and cheese.

“Hey.” He grins sheepishly. “I thought maybe you could use a hand setting things up.”

“Absolutely! Thanks so much for being here and for being so supportive.”

“Always, Dee. I feel bad that I backed off as much as I did. I should’ve realized there was more going on.”

“We all missed the signs for a long time, but now he’s on the right path, and we’re here to help him stay on it. That’s what counts.” Dillion gives him a side hug. “Anyway, let me run inside and grab all the stuff for the picnic table so we can get things set up before my parents get home. My mom said she’d text before they leave the hospital.”

She flounces up the steps to the front porch and disappears inside the house.

“Hey, man, how’s it going?” Aaron jams a thumb in his pocket and rocks back on his heels.

“Good. You?” I like Aaron, and when we’re talking renos, the conversation flows, but sometimes I find it hard to get a bead on him.