Just That Little Rush : The Maine

Five

Garrett: 17

            “Dad you ruined it...” Max mumbled, rolling her eyes. Her two sisters groaned in unison. John was laughing to himself like he had a secret. My mom looked uneasy. George suddenly looked disappointed. Ida and Mara exchanged solemn looks.

The only thing on my mind was Stepsister. 

Your stepsister, Nicole

            “Okay joke’s out.” Max says then turned to my mom then me, John and Trey. “We were just messing around to see if you’d call me Max the whole summer, but I guess now it’s off. Yeah, but I’m Nikki.”

I didn’t care what the hell her real name was.

Stepsister. Stepsister. Stepsister. Step. Sister.

Sister.

Aw fuck. 

            “Don’t worry Kate,” she turned back to my mom, “we did it to wife number two too so no need to feel stupid.”

I knew what she was doing. She was trying to piss my mom off and get her to leave, or get her to know that she was on her bad side and she’d have to win Nikki/Max over. And knowing my mom, she would have fallen for it without even knowing it.

So this was my stepsister.

 Fucking kill me.

            George looked at his daughter sternly. I didn’t see the resemblance at all. “Can I have a word with you outside?”

            “No Dad, I’m eating.”

Jesse grabbed her wrist and squeezed it like a warning.

            “Later then.”

            “I’m busy.”

Jesse squeezed again. This time, Max waved him off.

            “No you’re not.”

            “Yes I am.” Max stated, “I’m taking John and Garrett out. You know, one of Kate’s kids.”

Oh God, she really was going to be my stepsister. Or already was.

George looked around at the table, then at my mom, who looked somewhat defeated, then at Trey, then me. I could tell all he wanted to do was give Max a long-ass lecture, but he was still keeping up his nice image for Trey and I. It didn’t work. I hated him just as much as Max hated my mom. I wondered if she indirectly hated me too for being part of the new family. Finally he sat down, letting us all finish dinner in silence.

                                                                        * * *

            “Is everyone good in the back?” Jesse asked, scanning the backseat where John and I sat. John replied with a nod, I gave him a thumbs-up. As the car smoothed out of the driveway and onto the road, Max aimlessly pressed buttons on the stereo, changing songs every few seconds.

ABBA was singing “Money, Money, Money”.

“Nik,” Jesse said, his eyes still on the road, “you know, that was pretty bitchy of you.”

“I hate her. I hate all of them.” Max muttered, then abruptly turned around in her seat, stretching the seatbelt and getting herself tangled. She didn’t seem bothered though. “No offense though, Garrett.”