A.S.S.

“Mr. Atom.” I heard Mary-Ann address me. “You have three messages. And Samuel and Mike are ready for the meeting.”

A meeting?

I grabbed the messages from her desk, “Thank you, Mary-Ann.”

I walked toward my office door while I heard her yell, “Fix your tie.”

“Yeah, yeah.” I fixed my tie, glancing around at my old co-workers.

Ever since I had been promoted to Head of Software Development, I had to dress more formally. It felt weird to be one of the only people wearing a suit while everyone else was wearing semi-casual attire. Samuel and Mike were both stared at me as I entered my office.

“About fucking time!” Mike yelled as he came closer for a hug.

“I know. I know. I’m kinda late.”

“Kinda? You’re an hour late.” Samuel corrected me. Fucking Mister Know-it-all. He hasn’t changed a bit since college.

I took my seat as Mike and Samuel stared me down. They both wanted two different things.

“We need some changes to the software and website.” He handed me a packet of the statistics. “It seems like the software is freezing 10% of the time when people try to use it on their mobile phone or device. We think the problem, is in the JavaScript code, but that’s for you to find out and fix. I also need update for the new-”

“Is she hot?” Mike cut Samuel off. “I tried to stalk her online, but she doesn’t show off much of that bod. So, is she?” I could tell this was on his mind the second I walked in. He was grinning from ear to ear to find out what my little sister looked like.

“First of all, Samuel. You know how much I hate it when you come first thing in the morning and hand me the-,” I looked down at the packet, “Analyzation and Statistics for Better Understanding- oh for fuck's sake, these titles keep getting longer and longer.”

“Just read the damn packet and get the job done.” he used his stoic voice on me while adjusting his glasses.

“I always do. And Mike, to answer your question. She’s my stepsister, so I don’t know. I guess she is?” I lied.

I opened the packet and started skimming the text.

“Nice,” He nodded. “When are we going to meet lil’ sissy?”

I got a little annoyed with Mike, but I couldn’t let him know or else he would try to get to Lily to spite me. He was a child like that. He always wanted the toy other kids had.  

“Are you guys still coming over Friday?” I double-checked.

“Yeah.” They answered simultaneously.

“So, is that it? This was the meeting you wanted to have. Really?”

“Yep,” Mike said while getting up. “I just needed to know if your sister was hot.” He laughed.

Samuel got up and followed Mike to the door. However, Samuel shut the door and sat back down. I looked over at Samuel. He’s going to turn into an A.S.S.

Aggressive. Samuel. Scolding.

“Are you fucking serious?” He scolded me.

I rolled my eyes. This is what I get for having a friend who minored in psychology and thinks he’s top shit. He thinks he knows everything about me.

“What?” I played stupid, knowing he was going to bring up Lily.

“You like her.”

“Who?” I played stupid again, looking over the packet.

“Don’t play stupid. You know who. Lillian. You came in here way too happy and you got annoyed when Mike asked if she was hot and then called her ‘lil’ sissy’.” He said, imitating Mike’s baby voice.

How did he do that? How does he always do that? I guess he is pretty good at reading me.

“I mean wouldn’t anyone get annoyed when someone asks if a family member is hot?”

“Yes, but I KNOW you don’t consider her family. You’ve told me countless times,” he corrected me.

I didn’t have anything to say. I paused and tried to collect my lies. “Well- I.” I slammed the packet down. “Fine. I like her.” I gave in.

“Stop.” He pulled his chair closer to my desk and here came the aggression. “Number one. She is family and she is your sister, legally. Just no. You can’t like her. Period.”

He inhaled.

“Number Two. Let’s say if, IF, something happens and it goes south. It will cause problems with your living conditions and then your work, which then affects the company, which then affects ME,” he said while pointing to himself. “Not to mention, it would be really awkward at family parties and just being in the same room with her and your dad and her mom.” He let out a frustrated sigh, as he pinched the bridge of his nose. “No. Just N.O. It’s not right.”

Samuel hesitated for just a moment, “Just stick to one-night-stands.”

He had always been like this. He would always judge me in a weird caring way. He’s like Dad 2.0. No. He was Dad 1.0. My dad was at least more open minded and understanding than Samuel.

“Stepsister.” I corrected him.

“Are you serious?” he sighed. “That’s all you got from my points?”

“I’ll see what happens.” I shuffled the papers on my desk. “If she likes me. If we get together. If we go our separate ways. If’s it’s awkward. It’s all hypothetical.”

“Mmm-hmm.” Samuel sloped into his chair, getting into a more relaxed position. “You don’t see nothing wrong with this, Nathaniel?”

I hate when he uses my full name. I hesitated. I felt a little bad that I didn’t see anything wrong with it, but I couldn't lie to him.

“Not really,” I confessed. “We aren’t related biologically and we aren’t close. I was only at home with her for two months before I left for college.”

“You guys are living together now. That’s close enough.” He pushed his glasses up.

Is it fucked up that I don’t see anything wrong with it?

I mean I knew her when she was a little girl. She was this skinny little thing who always wanted to hang out with me, but I never did. I saw no point in getting to know her. I wasn’t her real brother. Memories started to flow in. A twisted feeling in my gut started to overtake my body. I began to regret my confession.

“Nate. Think about it.”

Samuel got up from the chair and headed toward the door.

“Oh and by the way. It might be best if Lily isn’t there Friday, especially with Mike coming over.” He closed the door.

I tried to push aside what Samuel said.

But it got to me.