Chapter ninety-nine:
Becky sauntered down the back yard towards the small lake behind the house, carrying a beach bag full of towels.
 Isaac and Christy had caught their flight to Canada earlier that day, and Becky was secretly happy to have the house to share between the four of them, if only for the weekend.
Taylor was still technically around, but he seldom left his room during the day. Zac claimed he was “sulking”, although Becky wasn’t quite sure what the entire story was.

Becky, Luke and Jen had decided to spend the day near the water. Zac, unwilling to wait for anyone else, tore off his shirt and shoes and dove into the water.

When he discovered Becky coming from the house in her bathing suit, he swam from the docks over to the small sandy beach area to meet her.

“Come in! The water is great!” He called.

Becky laughed. “Alright, alright! Keep your shorts on!” She teased, setting down the beach bag.

“Do I have to?” He teased, slowly crawling towards the shore.

Becky laughed. She wriggled out of her tank top and shorts to reveal a new bikini she had purchased for the sole purpose of catching Zac’s attention. It was slightly skimpier than what she usually wore, but that had been the sole idea.

Zac watched her dip her feet into the water, his eyes roaming over her small frame, and the newly exposed skin.

Becky laughed. “The water is freezing!”

“No it isn’t…” He argued.

“It is too! Look! I have Goosebumps!” she held out her arms.

“That just means you need to get used to the water!” in one swift movement, he sent a wave of water towards her.

Becky shrieked with laughter and splashed back.
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After paying the cab driver, Isaac followed Christy up the long driveway towards her parent’s house.

Christy stopped in the middle of the driveway, looking up at the small house.

“You know, it’s not too late. We can turn around and go back to the motel. I bet we can flag down that cabbie-“

Isaac walked towards her and took her hand reassuringly in his own. “Don’t worry. I’m here, and I’ll hold your hand the whole time if you want, okay?”

She nodded and suddenly embraced him tightly.

He returned her embrace and gently kissed her the top of her head. “Don’t worry. I’ll love you no matter what. I always will.”

She smiled. “Okay, but I’ll hold you to that promise.”

He chuckled and released her.

The rickety garage door was shoved open from the inside by a man wearing a stained wife-beater and jeans which were much too loose. He looked somewhere between Zac and Taylor’s ages but with a cigarette in his mouth and a bottle of beer in his free hand.
”Hey! Look who showed up!” He said.

Christy cleared her throat. “Isaac, this is my half-brother Jimmy. Jimmy, this is my fiancé, Isaac.”

“Please to meet you.” Isaac extended his hand and shook Jimmy’s even though his hands were covered in some kind of oil or grease.

“Fiancé? You’re getting married? You get her knocked up?” Jimmy eyed Isaac suspiciously. “Rock star like you and you don’t use a rubber?”

“Err…” Isaac said uncomfortably.

Christy dropped her forehead into the palm of her hand in complete humiliation.

“You got to watch that child support, it’s a bitch. I got a girl knocked up and now she won’t leave me alone. And how was I supposed to know she wasn’t eighteen yet?” Jimmy took a swig of his beer. “Hey, you guys got any weed?”

Christy ignored the question. “Where’s dad and Janet?”

Jimmy shrugged. “Out back, I guess. Dad ran over a deer this morning with his car, I think it’s out back in the shed…”

Christy grabbed Isaac’s hand and pulled him into the front porch.

“Baby, I’m so sorry. But he’s only a half brother…”

Isaac smiled and took her hand again. “That’s fine. He seemed nice. He might get along well with Taylor at the wedding.”

Christy narrowed her eyes.

“If you choose to invite them.”

She drew in a deep breath. “Alright, get ready for the shit storm.”

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