Page 38 of The Other Brother

Cody’s hand goes hesitantly to my back. “It was just a nightmare.”

“Someone was drowning… and I couldn’t save them.” My breath still comes in ragged gasps, the suffocating, choking feeling smothering my throat. My body is taking a long time to get with the program and realize I’m not drowning.

“It was just a nightmare,” he repeats.

I concentrate on filling my lungs, trying desperately to smooth my breathing.

Finally, my frantic need to fill my lungs fades, and I become aware of Cody’s proximity. The heat of his hand through my T-shirt. I’ve got my forehead pressed against his shoulder, and he smells of soap and salt and something else that is just Cody.

I pull back before my traitorous body can react in an inappropriate way.

Cody’s hand drops to his side.

“Thanks.” My voice is all croaky.

“You okay?”

“Yeah.” I rake a hand over my face.

Cody left the door partially open, so the light from the hallway is spilling in. He’s watching me, concern etched on his forehead.

“Sorry,” I say.

“There’s nothing to apologize for.” Cody’s tone is soft. “It’s not surprising you had a nightmare after what happened.”

“Yeah, I guess.”

I don’t want to dwell on the particulars of my dream. You don’t have to be Freud to work out where it came from.

“I should head back to my room,” he sounds unsure.

“Stay. Please,” I respond without thinking.

I see him swallowing. “Okay.”

He gets up to shut the door then climbs into the other side of the bed. He lies on his back, motionless.

“You okay?” I ask.

“Yeah.”

“Was I making lots of noise before? You know, to wake you up?”

“Yeah, you were kind of yelling and…”

“And?” I prompt, propping myself up on my elbow to look at him because I can tell from his voice there’s more to say.

“And you were calling out my name.”

Oh. I lie back down, facing the ceiling.

“I dreamed you were drowning and I couldn’t save you.” It is easier to whisper the words in the darkness when I can’t see his face.

Cody says nothing for a while. “I hope you’re not good at predicting the future,” he says finally.

I huff out a laugh. “I’m fairly sure I have zero psychic abilities.”

“That’s good to know.”