Page 43 of The Other Brother
“Anyway, I’ve still got to finish my assignment,” Mel says. “And the boys have got to finish cleaning up the kitchen.”
“Ms Bossy Boots,” I say.
“Yeah, well, I guess I’ll see you all in a few weeks.” I can hear the smile in Kate’s voice.
“I can’t wait,” Cody says.
As soon as Kate hangs up, Mel and Cody start an excited discussion about Kate and Chris coming home and how having the baby nearby will be so great. Cody suggests that maybe they could resurrect that three-piece orchestra group they started a few years ago, and they go into some obscure music discussion I can’t follow.
Eventually I cut through their chat with a well lobbed dish cloth aimed at Cody’s face.
“Hey, this dishwasher isn’t going to load itself.”
I head upstairsto my room after we complete loading the dishes.
Kate hasn’t lived here since she left for university, so it will be weird having her around again. But it will be great to get to know Chris better. And awesome that I’ll get to spend tons of time with my niece or nephew, rather than just seeing them on a screen occasionally.
But my brain decides not to dwell on any of that important stuff as I slouch on my bed. Instead, it’s providing me with helpful replays of brushing up against Cody in the kitchen. The look on his face when he found the raisin in his tacos. His laugh.
There’s a gentle knock at my door, and Cody pokes his head around. “Mel’s finished her assignment and is now hogging the TV watching some chick flick. Do you want to hang out in my room and watchLord of the Rings?”
I hesitate for a second. Right now, close proximity to Cody feels dangerous. But we’ve only got a few nights left together. I don’t have the self-control to say no.
“Okay,” I say.
I follow him into his room. He sits down on his bed near the headboard, and I jump next to him. He grabs a pillow to prop behind himself and gives one to me. I notice his pillow has Batman from the Lego movie on it, and I can’t help grinning.
Cody settles his laptop between us. “Cool news about Kate, huh?”
“Yeah, it’s awesome. I always need another big sister around to give me lectures. It’s something lacking in my life.”
“It’s funny, they’re not like that with me.”
“Yeah, I’ve noticed,” I reply.
Cody bites his lower lip.
He opens his mouth to say something, but I cut him off. “Nah, it’s great. It’ll be cool to have a little niece or nephew running around.”
“Yeah,” he says slowly.
“You realize I’m going to kick your ass in the cool uncle stakes, right?”
Cody raises an eyebrow. “You reckon?”
“Sure. Kids like gross stuff like fart jokes and fake vomit. I will own you.”
“I guess I’m willing to concede fart jokes and fake vomit to your superior skill set,” he says.
His smile is so warm my skin heats up in response. Shit.
“Anyway, we going to watch this movie or what?” I ask.
“Sure.”
Cody presses play, and suddenly we’re in the Shire, preparing for Bilbo’s birthday.
He sighs happily, “I love these movies.”
