But Caden cares. Not only are we the oldest and naturally inclined to watch over our sisters, Caden began taking life very seriously after Grandpa Michael narrowly survived a heart attack years back. Caden enrolled in med school immediately after Grandma Nance was freaking out and shouting to our waiting room, “Will one of you please become a doctor?! We need someone on the inside!”
There are seventeen of us grandchildren.
Caden was the only one who took it as a direct order.
“Max!” he barks. “I’ve had too much caffeine. First year residency is brutal. I’m dying.”
“You love it.”
“I do. But someone needs to bring me better coffee. What we have in the machines is absolute garbage. Lexi return your calls?”
“Not yet.”
“Good,” he mutters, “I was hoping it wasn’t just me she was ignoring. I mean it’s not good, but fuck, you know what I mean. I need a cracker or something. My stomach lining is wasting away.”
“Please tell me you’re not hands-on with actual patients in this condition.”
“What? Nah, I’m following. Listening. Acting like I’m smarter than Janet the know-it-all. Look, they’re making me go home at nine tonight to get some rest. I’ll meet up with you and we’ll put this Brad person to rest once and for all.”
“So you know his name?”
“Of course I know his name. You think you have one up on me?”
Smirking I head for my fridge. “Nah, why would I ever think that?”
“I hear the sarcasm.”
“Do you?”
“You know what, I’m fucking wired. Don’t mess with me today. This little brown-noser has these people wrapped around her finger. She’s forcing me to up my game.”
Putting him on speaker I dig out cold cuts and salad fixings. “You’re a competitive guy. Use that anger to motor your way through the last few hours.”
“Oh I plan on it!”
“But don’t let it turn you into an asshole.”
Caden’s silent for a beat. “Good advice.”
“I’m always here to lead the way.”
He laughs, “Help me,” but the sound is tight with ambition and a little fear. “I gotta go. I’ll see you tonight!”
I stare at the dead phone. “Does nobody say goodbye anymore?”
Crafting the ham and vegan cheddar sandwich of the century, I whistle to myself. Other than my bad melody, the loft is quiet. This was our father’s pad when he was my age. Mom and Dad lived here until I was born. They bought a house, the one we were raised in and where they live now, and he rented out this pad for years. Sentimental reasons. He and Mom had strong emotions tied to where they fell in love. Neither could imagine giving it over permanently to strangers.
When I finished film school their tenant at the time relocated to Orlando. I jumped at the chance of having this place for myself. It’s the perfect bachelor pad. Spacious but not too huge. They redid the kitchen and updated it with modern everything. The stove talks back to me, tells me how to cook everything, if I let it. Which I don’t because I’m a fan of hitting buttons and feeling like I have some control over my day-to-day existence in this overly robotic world. Most of us cousins feel the same way. Except maybe Ethan. But he’s so smart it makes my brain hurt to watch him think.
Taking this sandwich to my couch I prop my feet up on the metal coffee table and open wide for the most delicious meal I’ve had since yesterday. Tastes so good because it’s mine. This loft. The furniture. All paid for by yours truly. There’s a lot of pride in that for a man, especially a guy like me. You don’t become a director because you have a small ego.
I pay my parents market-value rent, same price as the guy before me who wasn’t blood. Mom objected but I fought her on it and I could tell Dad was impressed. It was he who finally got her to set her gavel down.
Jason, make him take it at half cost, at least!
Not a chance. If my son wants to earn his way, he’s a good man.
We know he’s a good man, but how will he earn enough for his movie?
He’ll have to figure that out.
You’re driving me crazy!
That’s why you still love me, Sarah, I never let you control me.
Oh, I control you alright.
Now you’re talking. Max, look away for a second while I kiss your mother.
So I work for Uncle Jake’s construction company part time. Used to tend bar six nights every week at clubs with huge crowds. Made so much money it shocked even me at first. Then it became a game of how much I could coax out of the older female clientele whose husbands weren’t showing them the love they used to. Got my fair share of phone numbers and more than my fair share of sex. Now I only bartend when they really need me, fill in shifts so I can focus on my dream.
Blinking over to where I left my phone on the kitchen counter I call out, “Stove, bring me my phone!”
“I’m sorry, Max. I’m not able to do that.”
Grinning I dash over, crumbs flying as I snatch it up and dial Natalie.
Her deep and scratchy voice greets me, “Were your ears ringing?”
Cocking my eyebrows I ask, “You were talking about me?”
“Wait, are when the ears are ringing, talking? I thought that was the itchy nose. No, I guess that makes sense. And no, I wasn’t talking or thinking about you. I was thinking about your film. I’m reading everything I can find about indie filmmaking and I have to tell you, I’m intrigued.”
“Yeah?” Licking my fingers I pad over to my bed. “What’s got you hot?”
There’s a smile in her voice as she corrects me, “I didn’t say hot.”
“I did.”
“Max, that sex
