Page 27 of Don’t Love the Boy Next Door (Hotties Next Door #2)

Chapter Twenty-Three

Eric

I hum as I make my way to the kitchen and place my guitar case on the table. Today was spectacular. The best day of my life. Katie and I…there are so many good things to look forward to. Growing closer to her, forming a deep, emotional connection just like I’ve been hoping for my entire life.

She makes me feel things I’ve never felt about another girl. No one has even come close to this amazing person.

When she told me she liked me, it was like fireworks exploded all around me.

Cliché, I know, but that’s the truth. And I can’t forget the kiss we shared at theater rehearsal.

It was more than acting on my part, and I see now that it was the same for Katie.

I haven’t been able to stop smiling since.

And when we killed it at practice, it was perfect.

There’s no other way to describe it. She’s crazy talented, and I’m super glad we chose her as our lead singer.

Not only because it could do wonders for the band, but because it gives me the chance to share something I love with her.

Same way she shares her love for musical theater with me.

I’m still humming as I pull the fridge open for a drink. I can’t stop thinking about that kiss and how it moved me more than anything has ever moved me before.

“Lover Boy, wanna move?” Ethan breaks me away from my thoughts. He stands before me, eyebrows raised. He nods to the fridge.

Laughing sheepishly, I move aside. “Sorry. I was thinking about—”

“Katie, I know.”

I can’t stop the grin conquering my face.

Ethan chugs down some water. “I’m happy for you, bro. Katie’s an amazing girl.” He shrugs. “I don’t need to tell you to treat her right because I know you will.”

I lean against the cabinet, still not able to yank my mind away from anything Katie related. “Is this how you felt about Charlotte? How’s it going with her, by the way?”

He shakes his head. “Broke up with her.”

My mouth drops. “What? You broke up with her? But you love her.”

He shakes his head again. “Not anymore. She wanted to try long distance, but I told her I wasn’t interested.”

I blink at him. “You serious? I remember how hard it was for you to move out here because you didn’t want to leave her. And now you’re telling me you’re completely over her?”

He shrugs. “Yeah. She’s in L.A. and I’m here. It wouldn’t have worked out, anyway.” After taking another swig of water, he leaves to his room, bass in hand.

I stare after him, not sure I understand what’s going on, but I figure I may never understand my brother one hundred percent. We’re close, sure, but not as close as we used to be. And I’m pretty sure there’s another reason why he broke up with her. I just don’t know what it is.

Climbing the stairs to my room, I place my guitar down and lift my shade, peering into the room next door. Katie’s at her computer, probably doing her homework. Her head lifts and she gives me a warm smile that makes my heart leap in my chest.

“Hey,” I say, returning the smile.

She moves to the window, leaning forward as if she wants to touch me. “I’ve missed you.”

“Me, too. When we’re apart, it feels like the world is incomplete.”

A small, shy smile forms on her lips. “I feel the same way.”

We just stare at each other as if we’re soaking each other in. I wish I could grab her, hold her tight and never let go. She’s so special, so strong after everything she’s been through. I don’t want to ever lose her.

“So what are you up to?” I ask.

She wrinkles her nose. “Math homework.”

“Hmm, sounds like fun.”

She playfully rolls her eyes. I’m about to say something else, when I hear the front door open. Mom’s home a little early tonight.

“Boys, I brought dinner!” she calls.

“Katie, I need to go eat dinner. We’ll talk later?”

She nods with another smile. I return it, wave, then head downstairs, where Ethan is already checking out the food Mom brought. It’s Mexican tonight.

Mom looks haggard. Overworked. If only Dad would…I shake my head. I don’t want to think about him right now. He sent the money, but it’s not enough to ease Mom’s burden. And I doubt he’ll remember to send more.

Mom smiles her usual tired, empty smile when she finds me standing in the doorway, watching my brother set the table. “Are you okay, honey?” she asks.

I tear my eyes away from her. No, I’m not okay. I’m not okay that my mother is so unhappy and there’s nothing I can do to help. I can try to be a good son, but I don’t think it will take away all her pain.

“Fine,” I mutter before entering and helping Ethan set up.

All three of us sit at the table and start eating.

No one says anything. Ethan’s busy devouring his food, Mom’s staring at the spot before her, and me?

Well, I can’t stop thinking about how different Mom’s life would be if Dad chose to be a dad and not a musician.

But at the same time, I’m proud of him for following his dreams. I share those dreams of being a musician, of touring, of performing for sold-out audiences.

Would Mom’s life be better had she never met my father? Ethan and I wouldn’t exist, but aside from that, she probably wouldn’t be working these crazy hours. She’d be happy.

But she’s not, all because she married my dad, then divorced him because being with him was too painful. He chose the band over her. I know she still loves him. Maybe he even loves her, but they couldn’t make it work.

My fork freezes in the air. Is that how it’ll be between Katie and me?

I want to follow in my dad’s footsteps, want to travel the world…

.but what about the girl I’m falling for?

Will I leave her home alone, crying after me like my mom did?

Will she spend her whole life waiting for me and not really living?

We’re only in high school and it’s a bit too early for me to be thinking about us spending the rest of our lives together, but I feel like it could happen with Katie. She’s the only girl for me, I know it.

My parents fell in love in high school, too. And look what happened to them.

Do I want to put the girl I love through that? Will she be like my mom and still cry after me years later?

I can’t…I can’t put her through that. I’ve been waiting for that special girl for a long time, and now that I have her, I realize that all I’m going to do is make her life miserable.

Katie would push me to follow my dreams, sacrificing her own feelings. No, I can’t. I won’t. She’s such a special person and deserves someone who will treat her like the queen she is. Not someone like me who’ll push his music before her.

What was I thinking? Of course I can’t be with her. As much as this tears me apart from the inside, I have to end things before they get too hard, before I hurt her. Because the deeper we fall into a relationship, the more it’ll hurt us.

Mom sighs, picking at her food.

My eyes burn with tears as I think about breaking Katie’s heart. But it’s for the best. I don’t want to hurt her, but I have no choice.

I can’t be the guy she needs.

After dinner, I drag myself up to my room and drop down on my bed.

My stomach is rolling over itself, my brain trying to convince me not to do this.

But I have to. I don’t want to be like my dad—having to choose between the woman he loves and his career.

I don’t want Katie to end up like my mom, who pretty much walks around like a zombie most of the time.

My phone dings with texts from Katie. She’s sent quite a few during dinner, but I haven’t read any. But as I lie here, I can’t take it anymore and sweep my phone out of my jeans.

Katie: So this math is really killing me. I’d rather hang out with you.

Katie: Please take me out of my misery.

Katie: Oh, right. You’re eating dinner, we’ll text after.

Katie: Eric, are you okay? It’s been an hour and you haven’t responded to any of my texts.

Katie: Eric? You there? Did something happen? You’re probably working on a song, huh?

Rolling around on my bed, I drop my phone and shut my eyes. My eyes burn some more, but I push all of that away. I can’t let my emotions control me. I need to do this. It’s the only way to ensure she’ll live a good and happy life.