Page 56 of Lost in the Current of You

Nate rolled his head to the side, and I saw his eyes drooping the same way. He turned the TV off and stood, stretching his arms above his head, fingertips slightly brushing the ceiling before turning to me. I thought he was just going to say good night and leave, but the words that tumbled out surprised me.

“Don’t listen to Mum. She’s got this idea that being in this high-paying and high-positional job means it’s more superior,” he said with an eye roll. “I think photography would be good for you if you love doing it. You could travel and see the world.” He paused before continuing in a pained whisper. “Just don’t be like me. Don’t be complaisant. Do what makes you happy.”

And then he turned with a muttered ‘night’, leaving me shocked and reeling from his admission.

Don’t be like me.

I wanted to call him back and ask more. Did he mean that law wasn’t what he truly wanted? My stomach dropped at that realisation. So many emotions rushed through me but mostly anger at our mother. My heart broke for him.

Did he have something he dreamed of doing? Did he fight with Mum just as much as I did when he was in school? Why did he let Mum push him into something he didn’t want? Did he know it wasn’t too late if he wanted to drop out and actually do what made him happy as well?

Don’t be complaisant.

I knew I wouldn’t. No matter how easy my life would be if I just agreed with everything Mum said and let her dictate my life. I wouldn’t be happy and I didn’t want to lead a life of misery just because of the headache my mum caused me.

Do what makes you happy.

My heart warmed with that sentiment. I hadn’t heard my brother give me words of encouragement or support like that. He wasn’t much for inspirational words. The only words we threw at each other were when we were bickering or making fun of each other.

My body slumped into bed after trudging my way up the stairs, but I wasn’t tired anymore. I was exhausted but my mind was still wired after the words Nate left me with.

It was well into the night before my eyes fluttered shut. My heart was still aching for my brother, wishing for some happiness to enter his life.

I woke up to yelling and laughter the next morning from my brother's room. I rolled my eyes behind my lids and almost tried to ignore it by stuffing my head under my pillow to block the noise, but then a second voice floated through the cracks in the door that made my heart stutter.

I padded over to my door and peeked through it to see the opened door of Nate’s room. Nate sat behind his desk in the middle of a rigorous game as he smashed buttons in the controller. Reece sat beside him watching on.

He was facing me so the movement of the door caught his attention and his eyes flicked up to mine. A smile tipped his lips before his eyes roamed down the length of my body, a flare igniting in them before he tore his gaze away.

I was in a small tank top and short cotton pants. I wasn’t expecting for Nate’s door to be opened or that Reece would be facing the doorway. A flush made its way onto my face with his reaction, but I shrugged it off.

I cleared my throat, and they both turned to look at me, but Nate’s eyes flicked back to the screen.

“Do you guys mind keeping it down? It’s not even 8 a.m. and you woke me up.”

“Sure thing,” Nate said absentmindedly, his attention solely on the game. I wouldn’t be surprised if he didn’t truly hear what I said.

“Sorry, Summers. Didn’t mean to wake you,” Reece replied.

I was starting to realise that Reece always called me Summers in front of other people, but when we were alone, he always called me Kody. And I kind of liked that. That it was just ours. In the silent, calm moments when he let his guard completely down.

With Nate completely distracted, Reece’s eyes roamed again over my half-exposed body with a smirk on his face. I didn’t think he would say anything more, so I started to close my door, but then he opened his mouth.

“Nice outfit, Summers. You should wear it more often.”

I rolled my eyes as Nate’s eyes snapped to me before he scrunched his nose.

“Dude, gross. And Dakota, go put some clothes on.”

I popped my hip on the door frame as I crossed my arms. “I think I’m quite comfortable in this, thank you.”

Even though my gaze was narrowed on my brother, I could feel Reece’s attention on every movement I made. I stifled the satisfied smile that threatened to tug at my lips while I stared off with my brother.

“Fine, just keep it in your room then. I don’t need you to subject my friends to my half-naked sister.”

I rolled my eyes. “I’m not even ‘half-naked’,” I countered, throwing my hand up in quotation.

“I can see half your ass in those pants. I think that counts as half naked.”

---