Page 67 of The Other Brother

“Angie was my attempt to… straighten myself. It didn’t work. Which is why I tried to drink myself into oblivion.”

“So, that’s the shit you were dealing with.”

“Yeah.”

“But it’s not like we live in the dark ages anymore.”

“My mum…” He swallows, uncrossing his arms. “She’ll have a problem with it, I’m fairly sure. You know, because of her church and everything.”

“So was that… your first time? I mean, have you ever… um… like… kissed a guy before?” I mangle my question so badly it’s like it’s been through the garbage disposal.

“No, I haven’t,” he says quietly.

I’m the first guy he’s ever kissed. Potentially his first kiss that has ever meant something. Yeah, I don’t want to dwell on that because I’m worried about what might come spewing out of my mouth. I need to reset this mood, fast.

I roll my eyes. “So typical, Cody.”

“What?” He’s got a defensive look on his face.

“That you’re amazing at something on your first try.”

The smile that lights up his face takes my breath away. Not really helping the not-spilling-my-guts cause, though.

“Well, the logistics aren’t actually different from kissing a girl,” he points out.

“Nah, except for the stubble burn you sometimes get.”

He flushes and looks down at his lap. “So… you’ve kissed a few guys before, then.”

“Yeah, a few.” I cough, suddenly awkward. I sit up a bit straighter. “Not like this, though.”

“What do you mean, not like this?”

Oh shit. My face heats. Damn the still night. I need a breeze to cool my face.

“Not anyone I’m friends with,” I say quickly.

“What about that guy Nico?” His voice is tight. “You know, the guy who came to the beach?”

“Nah, we became friends after we hooked up, actually. He was just experimenting. He’s got a girlfriend now.”

“Oh,” Cody traces a pattern on the hood with his foot before raising his eyes to me. “You’re not seeing anyone at the moment, right?”

“No.”

He clears his throat. “Do you want this, I mean… do you want us—” He gestures between us. “—to be a thing?”

My heart thumps like it’s battering its way out of my body. “If you’re asking if I want more make out sessions like that one, then my answer is hell to the yeah.”

A tentative smile spreads across his face. I feel a matching one on mine.

“We can’t tell anyone though,” he says.

“What do you mean? You don’t think our parents will crack open the bottles of champagne and toast to our happiness?”

Cody grimaces. “Yeah, I’m sure if I go home and announce I’m gay and I’m dating his ex-wife’s son, my dad’s first reaction will not be to celebrate.”

“At least the fact it’s me might distract them from the gay part,” I say.