Page 122 of Override

Matt shrugs. "You step back."

"No." The answer comes instantly. Too instantly.

Matt notices. Of course he does.

"You just told me you like her."

"I said I have a problem."

"Same thing."

"It's not the same thing."

Rachel walks over and sets a mug in front of Matt.

Then she leans down and kisses his forehead.

"I love you," Matt smiles immediately. The sight is disgusting. Then Rachel straightens. Looks directly at him. “But you're wrong."

The kitchen goes quiet. Matt sighs. Already knowing where this is going.

Rachel ignores him completely. Her attention fixes on me.

"Why do you think you like Maeve?"

I stare at her. Then laugh once. Disbelieving. "Seriously?"

"Very."

I open my mouth. Nothing comes out. Because apparently explaining this out loud is impossible.

Rachel waits. Matt waits.

Everybody in this family waits too much.

Finally I cave.

"She likes terrible action movies."

"Okay," Rachel says slowly.

I keep going. Because once it starts, it won't stop.

"She makes coffee too strong."

Matt's mouth twitches.

"She talks with her hands when she gets excited."

Rachel smiles. I keep going.

"She still worries about disappointing her parents even though they're proud of her."

The room goes quieter.

"She pretends she's fine when she isn't."

I stare at the floor. At the cabinets. Anywhere but them.