Page 23 of The Other Brother
I glance down at his completed crossword, my mind swirling.
Okay, so it turns out I’m totally not above cheating on this.
I scrunch over Cody’s crossword and pretend to write in the answers as Mel returns to the table and hands Cody his coke. Cody takes an absentminded sip as he fills in the blank spaces in my crossword.
“And done!” I lay my pencil down triumphantly five minutes later.
“You know you’ve got to get the answers right to win the bet. You can’t just have filled in any random words,” Mel says.
“Ask me the answers.”
Mel grabs the book and flips to the back, where the answers are. “What crossword did you do?”
I check the top of Cody’s crossword. “Number forty-five.”
“What’s the answer for two across.”
“The answer forKeep the Jam? It’spreserve.” I smile winningly at her.
“What about fourteen down?”
“Ladder.”
Mel squints at my page. “Why does that look like Cody’s handwriting?”
“You don’t know the difference between your brothers’ handwriting? Shame on you, Mel.” I shake my head in mock horror.
Cody keeps his face neutral, though there’s a flush creeping up his neck.
Mel’s gaze darts between us, but I stare back at her with a completely innocent expression. I’ve had a lot of practice with this particular look. I can see the suspicion on her face, but obviously she decides that Cody is far too pure and good to be involved in a cheating scandal.
I lean back. “I’m sure you remember the lecture Mum used to give about being a good loser.”
“I can be a good loser,” Mel says stiffly.
Around ten thirty that night,I pad into the kitchen to make myself a late-night sandwich. Baloney and cheese. You can’t beat that combination.
While I’m standing at the counter, eating with one hand, I grab my phone so I can admire Mel’s post from earlier this evening.
I am in absolute awe of my brother Ryan. I aspire to be like him in every aspect of my life. If only I could be as good-looking, talented, and charming as he is.
It’s garnering a lot of likes and comments. Although for some reason, people are suggesting I’ve hacked her phone. Such suspicious minds. For the record, Kate has gone with a mockingBahahahawith a crying/laughing emoji.
There’s a noise of footsteps on the stairs. I glance up as Cody emerges into the living room.
He looks startled to see me. I’m only in a T-shirt and boxers, whereas he’s got on proper pajamas.
I squint as he comes closer. His pajamas have musical notes on them. I bet they were given to him by Kate last year for Christmas at the same time she gave me pajamas with surfers on them. And while my pajamas were stuffed into a back drawer and forgotten about, of course Cody wears his like the excellent brother he is.
An irritational surge of annoyance flows through me as he comes into the kitchen and pulls out the milk from the fridge, pouring himself a glass.
When you think about it, even helping me out was just showing me up yet again. Is there anything about the guy that isn’t perfect?
I slide a glance at him now to find him watching me.
“Couldn’t sleep?” he asks.
“Yeah, doing cryptic crosswords gave me an appetite.” I polish off the last of my sandwich.
