Page 110 of The Other Brother

I’m heading out to a party with my friends. I should be studying for my upcoming biology exam, but I want to forget about my messed up family for a while. I want to forget about Cody’s messed up family and the places where our messed up families overlap. I want to forget about missing him, forget about his eyes and smile and laugh and talking to him and listening to his songs and the way it feels to kiss him.

I just want to forget.

At the party,I throw myself into Operation Forget. Which starts off by pouring a cup of beer down my throat.

“You pacing yourself?” Oz asks.

“Yup. I’m going exactly the right pace I want to go tonight,” I say as I pour myself another drink from the keg and swing half of it back in one gulp.

“Hey, man,” Oz says, concern in his voice.

But I turn away from him and wander through the living room. Already the remains of crushed potato chips litter the carpet. Someone’s going to have fun cleaning it up tomorrow. Not my problem, though.

Although, I can relate to the chips—I know what it’s like to be ground up into pieces.

Shit, I really need to get out of my head tonight.

“Hey, Ryan.” In the hallway, Jasmine from my chemistry class gazes at me with her large eyes. Randomly, she’s sucking on a lollipop.

“You want one?” She offers me a wrapped green lollipop from the pocket of her jean jacket.

“Nah, it’s okay. I’m sweet enough,” I say. My brain already feels fuzzy from the beer. I lean against the wall and take another swing from my cup, draining it.

“I bet you are.” Jasmine flicks me a wink that’s about as subtle as a Miley Cyrus dance move.

I just stare at her, my brain pulling a blank about how to reply.

Shit. It’s like I’ve forgotten how to flirt. It used to be one of my superpowers.

“Ryan!” Someone calls my name, saving me from the awkward silence that’s building up between Jasmine and me.

“See you around,” I mutter, turning and heading toward the sound like it’s a life preserver.

Until I realize who it is.

Grace.

And because he’s pretty much attached to her hip, Marco is here as well.

My steps slow.

Just what I need. Because I’m sure I’m not going to get through this conversation without Cody’s name being mentioned.

“Cody’s a mess. What the hell happened between you guys?” Marco blurts at first sight.

My stomach drops. I knew it. My newly developed psychic powers reign supreme.

“Just what was always going to happen.” I look away from his gaze, shrugging. “The shit between our families got in the way.”

“Well, why don’t you try to unclog some of the shit? Because he’s f-king miserable.”

Without realizing it, I’ve crushed my empty plastic cup in my hand.

I’mmiserable. And I don’t want to hear about Cody being miserable. I don’t want to feel sorry for him, because ultimately, this is his decision.

“Yeah, this is the kind of shit that’s not able to be cleaned away, you know?” I say.

Grace is looking at me with sympathy stamped on her face, which I really can’t handle right now.