Page 52 of The Other Brother

This house is like something out of some futuristic novel, all stainless steel and glass surfaces. I crane my head, scanning the room. But it’s not the décor I’m checking out.

No Cody inside.

A double set of French doors are wide open, leading to a wooden deck, which in turn leads to a glistening pool that’s lit up with solar lights around the edges.

I’m drawn to the pool like a magnet. I would claim it’s because of my innate connection with water, but it might have more to do with all the people who are stripping down to their underwear to go swimming.

Leaving Marco fetching Grace a drink like the gallant gentleman he is, I wander out onto the deck and take up a position against the railing where I can observe the proceedings.

I do a quick inventory of the people getting ready to swim.

Still no Cody.

My stomach falls, and my shoulders deflate. I try to ignore the heavy feeling overtaking my body. I’ve had a long period of Cody withdrawal. I was really looking forward to a fix tonight.

People are plunging into the pool now, and the noise of splashing and laughter echoes around the backyard. But for once I don’t feel like joining in. I feel removed from all the wide smiles and shrieks and shouts, like it’s a language I don’t speak.

“I didn’t know there would be rhinoceros here tonight,” a voice says behind me.

I whirl around. Cody’s standing there, a grin lighting up his face.

That grin causes something bright and bubbly to froth up in my chest.

He’s wearing a short-sleeved button-down blue Hawaiian shirt and jeans. He’s had a haircut since the beach, and it suits him, though I have a pang for his free-roaming curls.

“Yeah, this is a real zoo. I figured they needed something horny,” I manage.

Cody’s grin grows wider, and he arches his eyebrow. “If this is a zoo, what animal am I?”

“You’re a meerkat,” I say.

“Meerkat? Why a meerkat?”

Because they’re smart and cute. I don’t say this aloud though.

“Small and rodent-like.”

Cody huffs out a laugh. “You really know how to compliment a guy.”

“I try.”

We amuse ourselves as we head to the kitchen to grab beers, deciding what zoo animals other partygoers would be. The tall girl in a bright pink dress that ends just before her underwear is definitely a flamingo. The guy chugging beer from a yard glass? He’s a warthog, while the surrounding crowd are hyenas with their anticipatory faces and raucous laughter.

With every one of Cody’s deep chuckles, the bubbles in my chest grow larger and larger.

I check out the room for Grace, but she’s tucked away on a corner couch with Marco, pressed up against him in a way that makes me think she might not appreciate an interruption. Even from someone as awesome as me.

“Your guy Marco, he’s solid, right?” I ask Cody.

Cody follows my gaze. “Yeah, he’s a great guy.”

“Good.”

We amble back out to the deck.

Normally at a party I’m attracted to wherever the most noise and laughter is happening because that’s natural Ryan habitat. Usually I’d be in the pool in a flash, introducing the Appleton crowd to the fun of shoulder wrestling instead of the game of Marco Polo they’ve got going on.

Tonight I’m happy enough to stay put, watching the action rather than joining in. It may have something to do with Cody beside me.