Page 87 of The Other Brother

“I always knew the existence of you two would come back to bite me somehow,” I mutter.

“Seriously, Ryan, some people will have a problem with you and Cody together. And I’m not just talking about Mum and Dad.”

“Who cares what close-minded people think?” I say.

Kate rolls her eyes. “Hey, I’m all for star-crossed lovers. But you need to think this through.”

“I have thought it through.”

Mel huffs to show me how much she believes in that theory.

“Cody does nothing by halves, Ryan,” Kate continues. “He’ll be taking this seriously. And if you’re just messing around with him…”

I see red. My vision is swarming with angry red jellyfish with paintbrushes coloring the whole ocean a violent scarlet.

“Oh my God, I’m taking this seriously too!” The words burst out of me.

“I find that hard to believe,” Kate says calmly.

My breath comes in shallow pants. I turn away so my sisters can’t see my face as I try to compose myself. What the hell can I say to convince them I’m not fooling around with Cody? They’re always going to believe the worst of me. And why should I turn myself inside out, expose my guts, just to persuade them? It’s none of their business how I feel about Cody.

I go for my standard default. When in doubt, joke.

“This is between me and Cody. And last time I checked, Cody wasveryhappy with how things stood between us.” I layer so much innuendo into my voice that even frat house boys would blush.

Kate pulls a face, while Mel rolls her eyes.

“Are you trying to gross us out?” Mel asks.

“Yup. Is it working?”

“Yes. What you and Cody get up to is so far past my need-to-know line.”

“Great. My work here is done.”

“This can’t come out before my baby shower.” Kate juts out her chin. “It’s difficult enough dealing with Mum and Dad in the same room for two hours. We’re not dropping this into the mix.”

“Trust me, they’re not hearing anything from us,” I reply.

Chapter23

I’m mildly grumpy with Cody next time I see him. Which is not fair, I know. It’s not his fault our sisters are biased toward him.

But when the perfect guy picks me up in his perfect car looking every inch his perfect self, I have to bat away my old feelings of resentment.

“Did you get the pleasure of a visit from our sisters?” I ask as we hit traffic. I’ve been stewing on it but didn’t want to ask him over text.

He looks startled. “How did you know?”

“Um… because they came to see me too.”

Cody flicks his indicator to turn right. Is it my imagination, or does he look guilty?

“Yeah, they turned up the other day to talk to me.”

“I’m willing to bet you didn’t get the same lecture I got.” I cross my arms across my chest.

He shrugs. “We mainly discussed how I should come out to Mum and Dad.”