Meeting the Step

by Adams, Ash

  Me: Okay then, tonight.

  Richard: It's a date. I'll be there at 6.

  Me: K.

  I wasn't sure why I suddenly changed my mind. Maybe it was because I wanted to see if Richard would be any different tonight. Maybe it was me giving him a final chance to prove himself. I wished things could change but deep down I knew they wouldn't.

  I picked up my things and walked inside. The doorbell rang and I looked out and saw a man with bags of Chinese food. I opened the door and he looked me from top to bottom.

  "Damn," he said then handed me the credit card slip.

  Way to make a girl feel uncomfortable.

  I hurried and signed Max's name on the receipt, left a tip, then handed the paper back to him. In the distance, I heard the water stop and smiled.

  "You made my day, sexy." He gave me one more look over before handing me the plastic bags. I shut the door as soon as I could. Ick. He made me feel dirty.

  I placed the food on the table and made my way up the stairs. I pulled some old cut off shorts and a tank top from my dresser and walked into the bathroom where Max was standing wearing nothing but a towel and a smile.

  "Sorry," I said then shut the door quick. That image would be forever burned into my retinas. His towel hung so low I could see the top of his pubic hair. Trimmed nicely. He must have had just enough time to cover himself whenever I opened the door. I took a few steps back and my bedroom door opened.

  "I'm finished. It's all yours," he said.

  "Umm…thanks."

  As he turned to shut the door, I spoke. "Oh, food is here."

  "Awesome." He continued on his way.

  I walked into the bathroom and the smell of his soap still lingered. It was fresh like the ocean breeze. I slipped off the cool, wet bathing suit and stepped into the hot shower. I washed every part of my body, even the sensitive areas that begged for attention, but I didn't linger. I much preferred the touch of a man than the touch of my hand. My hormones were going wild and I needed to stop. I knew that if this went on any further and my mother found out, she would say I was acting out, doing this on purpose to ruin her soon-to-be marriage. Recently, she made me feel like I was nothing more than her own personal terror. I couldn't help that I was a constant reminder of my father.

  I stepped out of the shower and dried my body then towel dried my hair. After I was finished, I slipped on my clothes then picked my wet bathing suit from the floor and hung it over the sliding shower door. Before going downstairs, I ran my fingers through my hair and applied some lip-gloss. A nervous bubble grew inside my tummy, a feeling I hadn't felt in years.

  I sucked in a deep breath and made my way to the dining room. One step at a time, I told myself that I needed to get my shit together. White boxes with bright red Chinese symbols on the outside were placed all over the table. Chicken, egg rolls, cheese wontons, lo mien, Max had ordered the whole menu.

  He walked in with paper plates and plastic forks and spoons.

  "I like variety," he said watching me stare at all the food.

  "Obviously. And smart on the plates and plastic wear. I hate washing dishes."

  In my old house, we didn't have a fancy dishwasher or even wireless Internet. Compared to where I was now, it was almost a rags to riches story, but those things didn't matter to me. It's funny how snooty everyone was on the West side of town and how they lived in their cookie cutter homes with their cookie cutter families, so prim, proper, and perfect. Living here was everything against who I was. I wasn't that mold and never would be, but I might as well enjoy the positives for the short time I would be there.

  I pulled out a chair in front of Max and sat. I reached over and scooped some noodles and chicken on the plate. He handed me chopsticks with a smile and I grabbed the fork next to the wontons. Other than the crunching and chewing, we ate in silence. Sometimes conversations weren't needed. Sometimes the company of another person was just enough.

  Max's phone rang and a picture of a pretty girl popped up on the screen. I glanced down at it then back at my food. Had he lied about having a girlfriend? Did it really matter? He answered the phone with a big smile on his face and leaned back in the chair. I could somewhat make out what she was saying.

  "Tonight?" His eyes seemed to pierce straight through me.

  He laughed. "I wouldn't miss that for the world."

  A date, possibly? I tried to think of all the things I wouldn't miss for the world and I came up short of ideas. Maybe he didn't have a girlfriend but was seeing someone. The possibilities were stacking up in my thoughts.

  "Can I bring someone?" His eyes had never left me. There was that nervous pit in my stomach again. The one that seemed to come and go like the waves on the beach.

  "Thanks, babe. See you then." He sat his phone on the table then scooted his plate out of the way. Max interlocked his fingers then gave me a little side smirk. "Do you have plans tonight?"

  The question was simple, but I felt like there was so much behind it. Could I possibly be the someone he wanted to take with him?

  "I do actually." But I kind of wished I didn't.

  "Can you cancel?"

  What he was asking me was could I ditch my boyfriend of 4 years to rendezvous with him, my soon-to-be stepbrother. My heart shot spikes of excitement and guilt through my veins and that was when I decided to choose my conflict. I'd take the chance.

  "What time?" I asked.

  "Eight."

  "It's a maybe. It all depends on how something goes."

  "Fair enough."

  Tonight at 6:00 p.m., when Richard came to pick me up, I'd decide then about our future. I couldn't be a cheater but as each day passed, I knew I didn't want to be with someone who loved alcohol more than me.

  "Hopefully you'll join me. Guaranteed good time." Max stood and started cleaning the mess from the table then walked away.

  I sat and asked myself what the fuck I was doing.

  I really didn't know the answer to that question.

  Chapter Nine

  Chelsea

  RICHARD WOULD BE here any minute and a part of me wished I would have just told him we needed time apart over the phone, but I wanted to give him one last chance. After the other night when he grabbed me so hard he left bruises, I knew that we couldn't continue on this destructive path. The past two years had been rocky and his need to drink became more important than us. Richard needed help but refused to get it. In his mind, he was just having a good time and I always ruined it when I cut him off. He had an addiction. I understood it but he didn't.

  For years, I tried to deny it but lately he had become more physical and aggressive. I couldn't put my life in his hands any longer and every time I got in a vehicle with him after he had been drinking, that's what I was doing. He was putting mine and everyone's lives at risk. The thought of him getting behind a wheel after he drank all night sickened me, especially because a drunk driver killed my father. It was a slap in the face.

  I scooted out of the little shorts and slipped on some pants then waited downstairs. In the distance, I heard the deep grumble of an engine and I knew Richard was close. He always had to be the loudest.

  A doorbell rang out and I opened the door and allowed him in. The smell of liquor permeated from him and by the way he swaggered, I knew that he was already drunk.

  "Hey baby," he leaned forward to kiss me and I wasn't fast enough. I grabbed his hand led him to the couch. As soon as we sat, his hands were all over my body, rubbing over my breasts while he leaned over to try to kiss me again. His large frame practically pinned me to the sofa. I attempted to push him off so we could talk, but he was too heavy.

  "Richard. Stop it."

  He pulled back and looked at me with want and lust in his eyes. The man in front of me was not the man I fell in love with right after high school. I had no clue who he was anymore.

  "Can we talk first?" I tried to keep my tone sweet and playful because I didn't want to make him angry. I needed him to understand me.
/>   "We can talk then we fuck," he said.

  I had to stay calm. He leaned back on the couch and rested his hands behind his head.

  "I've been thinking about us lately."

  Richard turned his head and looked at me. Regardless of the alcohol that swam with his blood, he knew I was being serious.

  "I don't think it's working anymore. I love you, I really do, but it's not the same. You need help. Your addiction—."

  "What the fuck, Chelsea?" He was instantly angry. His temper frightened me and no matter how calm I tried to stay, at that moment, I was scared.

  "I'm breaking up with you, Richard."

  "No, you're fucking not," he said, moving toward me.

  I tried to stand and he yanked me back on the couch. "Now you promised we'd fuck." He stood up, pinning me to the couch with his knee as he unbuttoned his pants.

  "No." I forced out the word. The pain from his weight was almost unbearable, but I found enough strength to kick him with my other leg. He unsteadily fell on the coffee table and a flower arrangement fell to the floor causing a loud crash.

  "What the fuck is going on down here?" Max was furious, enraged. I looked up at my knight in a t-shirt and blue jeans.

  Richard stood and made a low growling noise. "Fuck you, pretty boy."

  Max picked up his phone and waited. "I'd like to file a report. There is an intoxicated man at my house. I live at 4679 Sunset. He's driving a black lifted truck," Max said. He walked to the front door and read the license plate number.

  Richard moved toward me and grabbed my arm. He squeezed so tight that my bicep felt like it was being ripped from the bone.

  "Please, please let go of me." Begging wasn't below me. I was breakable and knew that.

  Once Max hung up the phone, he stopped at nothing. He pushed Richard with every bit of strength he had. Richard fell to the ground knocking a shelf of glass trinkets to the ground. The glass shattered to pieces.

  My back pressed against the wall and I waited for it all to stop. Minutes later, loud pounding on the door echoed through the room and was accompanied by the sounds of fists hitting skin. I rushed to the door and opened it.

  It had all happened too fast. The police officers rushed in and broke them apart, holding the two at a distance away from one another. Another police car arrived with its lights flashing. Two more officers came bustling into the house.

  A blonde cop came to me asking me what had happened and if I were okay. I glanced over at Richard, a drunk mess, then looked over at Max. His lip was busted and cheek pink from the fight.

  This was my fault. I should have known better.

  Richard was handcuffed and escorted outside. I watched over the woman's shoulder as they placed him in the back of the car and drove away. It happened so quick then so slow, all at once.

  "Are you okay?" Max asked.

  I was in shock.

  "Did he hurt you?" Max looked worried.

  I didn't realize I was holding my arm close to my body. Max grabbed it and saw the old bruises and the purples already forming from the new ones. He looked into my eyes and the emotions were ready to spill over.

  Had Richard and I actually ended with a domestic dispute?

  Orange lights flashed against the living room wall and through the window I saw a tow truck backing up to Richards truck. This wasn't over yet.

  My heart was breaking. I never thought ending it would be easy but then again, I never thought it would end like this, so messy.

  I glanced over at the glass on the floor and the spilled water and flowers. My arm throbbed from the tight grip and I wanted to cry, but I wouldn't be that girl.

  "You deserve better than that, Chels."

  He had called me Chels, a nickname and I didn't know what to think about it.

  "I know. Now time to clean up this mess." I wanted to stay busy. I wanted to forget that any of this had happened. I walked to the kitchen and grabbed the trash can then went back to the living room. I knelt down to throw the broken pieces of porcelain in the trash.

  "I'm so sorry," I said to Max as I picked up a little angel with broken wings.

  "Don’t' worry about it. My dad hated these things. I think my mom kept them here just to drive him crazy. No one will even notice." He smiled.

  Just a few pieces were broken. It looked worse than what it really was.

  After we had finished cleaning up the mess, I turned to go upstairs but Max grabbed my hand and pulled me to him. "Are you sure you're okay?"

  His eyes were so blue with little speckles of light and dark in the irises. Stubble graced his chin and when he smiled his straight teeth rested perfectly on his plump bottom lip.

  "I'm fine. It's not something I will get over anytime soon. We were together for years, ever since I was 18. I feel like I've lost a friend, and in a way, I have. I knew it was coming, but it doesn't make it any easier."

  Max rested his arms on my shoulders. "Tonight I promise to take your mind from all of this. It will all seem like a blur. You don't have to go if you don't want to but I think you should."

  I sucked in a deep breath then swallowed. "I'll go."

  If I didn't get away and surround myself with people, I would allow my thoughts to control me and sometimes that wasn't the best.

  Chapter Ten

  Max

  EARLIER SHE HAD looked at me with lust in her eyes and now they were full of hurt. For the rest of the afternoon, all I could think about was her soft tongue dragging against and massaging mine. I had to admit it had been a long time since I felt fireworks. I couldn't remember the last time I kissed a stranger and felt any sort of emotional. I knew absolutely nothing about her other than a few things, but that's why I wanted her to go with me tonight. My core group of friends was meeting at our secluded spot on the beach to celebrate Tracy and Trina's engagement. There would be music and beer and friendship and I wanted to share that with Chelsea. Most of all, I wanted to get to know her.

  My friends, though they were loud and outspoken, could make anyone feel comfortable. It wouldn't be long before they had her spilling every detail about herself. As I walked back to my room, all I could think about was tonight and the possibility of getting to know a girl that I wanted to know everything about. It made me smile.

  My phone was blowing up with group text messages from Tracy and Trina. There were so many pictures of their engagement and Tracy on her one knee with a ring in her hand. I couldn't be happier for them. But it made me wonder about my own life. Lately, it had been full of one-night stands and jacking off. I'd be lying if I said I didn't want more than that. But after seeing the way my mother and father grew apart, I was in no rush to settle down. My recent motto had been fuck and forget it. That's why that kiss had haunted me. It was just a kiss, but it was on fucking replay. That girl would be the end of me and we were barely at the beginning.

  I walked into my bedroom and grabbed a light jacket just in case it was cold on the beach with the constant wind. California days were warm, but the nights were chilly. It was its own paradise with perfect weather, but one could never be too prepared.

  I knocked on her door when it was time to go. For an hour, I had left her alone to process everything. All I could think about was hurting Richard. I wanted him to feel the type of pain he made her feel.

  I waited outside of her door and for a moment, I thought she had changed her mind and I told myself she wasn't going to come. That was okay, I guessed. As I walked away, her door opened and closed. I turned and looked at her. She had been crying. Her eyes were puffy and cheeks pink. That reaction was understandable considering her ex-boyfriend was arrested.

  I shot her a sweet smile and waved for her to come on. She followed behind me without speaking a word. The keys to the Mustang were on the kitchen counter where I had left them for my dad. I swooped them in my palm and locked the front door behind us. I crossed the yard in long strides and opened the car door for her. There was a sparkle in her eye when she looked at the car.

&nb
sp; "This is yours?" she asked as she slid inside and buckled.

  "Yeah. The deal was Dad could drive it whenever he wanted if we got it restored."

  "It's beautiful." She rubbed her hand across the dashboard. The orange glow from the streetlight lit her face and I could see her smile, a real smile. Happiness like that was contagious.

  I popped the car into first gear and we zoomed down the street. A few turns and miles down an old paved beach road then we were traveling down the sandy beach. I rolled down my window and she rolled down hers. The smells of salt water and sand filled the car along with the sounds of crashing waves. She hung her arm out the window making waves with her hands. In the distance, I could see the bonfire and cars lined down the beach. They had gone all out for this little celebration and I hadn't expected anything less.

  We pulled in behind the long line of vehicles and manually cranked up the windows. Chelsea dropped her phone on the floorboard and reached down to pick it up. I heard the crumpling of something and I looked over to see her holding a condom wrapper in her hand. She looked down at it then over at me.

  "I guess you know that's not my dad's." I tried to shake it off because that night with Glory meant nothing. I didn't want her to think less of me or think I was a man-whore.

  "At least you're safe I guess."

  I couldn't read her tone or reaction and I didn't have a reply. She bent back down and grabbed her phone then we were on our way. Music and laughter echoed in the distance and I couldn't wait for her to meet everyone and get her mind off of what happened earlier tonight.

  As soon as I came into everyone's line of sight, they started hooping and hollering. A huge grin covered my face and we picked up our pace. Tracy greeted me with a big hug and I told her congratulations. We had been friends forever and to see her finally happy made me happy.