No One But Us

by Elizabeth O'Roark

“What would you guys do without me?” Max asks. “I’m guessing it would be all Downton Abbey re-runs and Scrabble tournaments.” “I’d kick your ass at Scrabble,” says James. “I’m sure you would, but the fact that you’d even brag about that is a perfect illustration of my point,” counters Max. “We’re having a blow-out tonight, by the way, since you’re all off.” “As opposed to what you host every other night of the week?” Ginny asks. Max’s parties irritate Ginny to no end. Actually, everything about Max seems to irritate Ginny to no end. Mostly, she’s just appalled that he’s not more like her—that he dropped out of college only one semester shy of graduation and appears to have no interest in returning, that he spends his winters as a ski instructor and his summers tending bar and seems completely content. These are decisions Ginny finds unimaginable. “I’m doing it for you, Gin Gin,” he replies. “To help you remove the large stick that seems to have accidentally been wedged in your ass.” “How do you think you’ll ever support a family, living the way you do?” He grins. “What part of my behavior has led you to think for one moment that I’m interested in having a family?” “So all you want out of life is to bang a different girl every night?” she demands. “No,” he says with a shrug. “If we’re talking about ideal outcomes, I’d bang two or three.”