Stranded with My Stepbrother

ac

ight to my core. The Suburban had hit another deep pothole on the disused loggin

ve the fact that my stepbrothe

way before returning to whatever he was doing on his ce

long time ago. Right about the time of my fifteenth birthday, in fact, when I to

njoying the untouched wilds of Canada every yea

il

ly from the front seat. It must've been the thousandth time she sai

ly at his mother. “You're right

. He knew I hated it, so Caleb took grea

two days, you mean,

“Yeah, that's

knew this. I’d memorized the fact

orgot it. Every year. I’m not even sure

ful for the solidarity. My dad had more of

phone. I hated that we were seated hip-to-hip. I hated th

sted with desire every time I

hat was shaved up the back but left short and loose

ody to

at, he was

a

e'd even bee

ubby fifteen-year-old with untamable black hair, he'd gone cold. Luckily, he'd also

ole, and I would have landed in Caleb's lap had I not been weari

No getting around that one,” my

on had me glancing dow

was on h

s nearly on the f

e sighed, rubbing my father's arm. “Yo

ded with a grimace. He ga

?” I

ing your hand someday?” Ca

as still hanging onto his thigh, stil

snatching my hand back. “

and raised his phone agai

There isn't even a signal out here,” Jeanie admo

” Caleb

ion to me. “Jacey, is he

anie putting ME in

the better of me, and I gla

anything at all. Much to my surprise, except for l

ow at me, challenging

wasn't g

. He's losin

etter,” Caleb said, casua

locked the screen s

can do better...’” my f

ed in. “’Sooner or late

nd Jeanie w

othache,” Caleb said, fini

ed my thumb over Caleb’s screen as tho

not have mad

face was crowding mine, hi

went the z

u told Caleb you were in love with him?” my

and leaned against my own door, putting as much space b

d, making desperate

ensitivity as a fencepost. “That would have been

ole to be big enough to sw

d forth. “It was just a silly childhood crush. They would never

probably red as an apple, if the h

Caleb, certain he mu

ee his hands balled into fist

ster. Ewww, right Jac

ght,” I s

der than was necessary. But I think all of us, ex

steering wheel as the large moose weaved its way through the trees. When it moved, we

ndid her

napped to her. “Wh

ke a picture, sill

ed it closed again. “The hell you are. That thing’s a killer. Oh, it might look cute, but t

o you really think that’s appropriat

n in two days!” my

“Don’t worry. He said a lot worse when

nie said, s

d-new net, and the fish was a mons

and on Caleb’s knee as the Suburban started back down the

bled. “It’s going to be

this trip, including most of our equipment and your fishing license.

b’s teeth grind a

atest trip ever!” Caleb s

glad you could come this year, Caleb, Jeanie. Jacey and I wou

swatted his arm. “Behave!

nd looked back

ogle Caleb’s profile. Sure, I would never touch him. He’d certainly made

y face, Jacey?” Caleb fin

was caught.

and take in the sights? It’s real

staring out my window until I felt like

noises at each other, and I sighed to mysel

lf.” Of course, I’d always suspected she left because she had a chubber of a baby who grew into a c

autiful. Me? I wasn’t as chubby as I had been, but I still had a fuller figure than most girls. My boobs were too big,

d it would wipe away some of the fat there. No m

as though he was having one of his rare moments of empathy. “I

seat pocket in front of me, regretting the Snickers I’d eaten

o stop my hands from chaffing my jeans. “You

ather, and back again, curiosity cloudin

a little eating disorder. Ev

cried, scandali

ed, and I didn’

initely going to b