Page 51 of The Other Brother

“Hey, you should come too.”

I concentrate on stuffing my notes into my folder, my heart rate speeding up at her words.

“Nah. I don’t think it’s my scene.”

“Please. It will be less weird for me if you’re there. And you’re friends with Marco’s friend Cody, right?”

“Yeah, we’re friends.” I keep my eyes on my folder instead of meeting her gaze.

“Then come hang out.”

I keep my voice casual. “Okay, I might tag along.”

“Great, thanks.” Grace gives me a bright smile, which makes me feel shitty. Helping her out isn’t exactly my primary motivation for agreeing to go to the party.

“You coming to the cafeteria?” Mia asks me as we stand up.

“In a sec. I want to talk to Mrs. Steinberg first.”

Mia raises an eyebrow but doesn’t say anything.

I walk to the front of the class where I hover around Mrs. Steinberg’s desk until she finally decides to acknowledge me.

“What can I do for you, Ryan?”

I scratch the back of my neck. “Uh… because I didn’t really focus last year, I need to do some catching up so I’m prepared for this year’s course.”

Mrs. Steinberg’s eyebrows shoot up. She grabs a textbook and slaps it down on her desk with an ominous thud.

“I think you’ll find this is an excellent place to start.”

* * *

Grace picksme up for the party in her funky pink beetle. She’s dressed in jeans and a green halter top that’s almost exactly the same shade as myNinja powers loadingT-shirt.

“Snap,” I tease.

She looks down at her outfit and laughs.

We discuss school stuff as we drive through increasingly flashier neighborhoods on the way to the address Marco gave her. But by the way Grace bites at her lip and her more rapid than usual speech and quick laugh, I’m sure she’s nervous about this party. I should be trying to calm her down. But I’m matching her nerve for nerve as I tap out a beat on my thigh with my fingers.

He might not even be there. I might be letting the birds, butterflies, and bats out for a free flying session in my stomach for no good reason. I haven’t messaged him to find out if he’s going, because I’m worried that would read too desperate and stalkerish.

Grace finds a parking spot two hundred feet down the street from the location where trusty Google Maps has guided us.

We’re a little late. Which is a useful party technique for when you’re turning up to a party where you don’t know the host.

“Wow, this is fancy,” I comment as we walk up the long driveway and the large house comes into view. The house looks like it is having an identity crisis and can’t decide if it’s a house or mansion. Music is pumping out of the windows and open doors, and already people are stumbling around the front lawn. It’s classic proof that money and intelligence don’t always go hand in hand—assuming the owners actually agreed to host a back-to-school party. Whatever the case, hopefully they have a comprehensive insurance policy.

Marco is waiting for us on the front porch.

“Hey.” The smile on Marco’s face when he sees Grace is bigger than a billboard.

“Hey.” Grace returns his smile, although hers has the usual Grace enigmatic twist. “You remember Ryan?”

“Yeah, Cody’s stepbrother, right? How’s it going?”

I’m not Cody’s stepbrother. We just share two half-sisters. But as I follow Marco into the house, I decide now is not the right time for an in-depth discussion about Cody's and my family tree.