MAX

By the time I’m at my Jeep I’m so pissed I don’t notice my phone has been vibrating. The only reason I take it out is so I won’t sit on it, but then my brother’s name glowing from the screen surprises me. “Caden, stop me before I kick Ivan’s ass.”

“And rob you of the fun?”

My headlights illuminate fog drifting in from the river as the seatbelt automatically folds over me. The view’s pretty, calming, and I exhale, rubbing my forehead. “We worked on a few shorts in film school together, but I never really liked the guy. Don’t know why I met him out here.”

“Want me to ditch my rounds, come help you beat him up?”

A smile tugs, and I exhale anger out of my lungs. “Let’s talk about something else. How’re the cadavers treating you? Anyone sit up and wave yet?”

“Way to turn my residency into a horror show, thank you for that.”

“Anybody dead reach out and grab your nuts in those cute scrubs you wear?”

He chuckles, “You’re a sick fucker, Max.”

I pull onto the long road that runs alongside 285 and dryly toss back, “I’m not the one who’s gone into a field where keeping a level head at the sight of blood is a prerequisite.”

“Strangely I don’t get queasy at the gore. But I never have, you know that.”

“Oh I remember when Samantha cut her hand on that fence when she was little and you were the only one who didn’t puke.”

“One of the more gruesome slices I’ve ever seen to this day. But maybe because I love her. When it’s your little sister…” He trails off and changes the subject. “Things are going well though. I guess I was meant for this. I’ll have to thank Grandma Nance someday. Where are you right now?”

“Getting onto the freeway. I was at Rays On The River.”

“Pricey place.”

“Not if you’re in the bar. Small menu. Crab cakes, french fries, stuff like that. Beer is cheap. I’m saving my pennies, as you know.” Veering around a slow-moving sedan I ask, “Why’d you call?”

“Hang on a sec.” His voice lowers as he addresses someone in the hospital. “Hey, how come you’re in scrubs again?” There’s a pause, and I can’t hear the other person answer but my brother’s voice comes through a second later. “What the fuck? I knew I should’ve stuck around, dammit!” Returning to me he grumbles, “You know what pisses me off?”

“What?”

He sighs, “Nothing, forget it. I have to go. I was heading home but now I’ve gotta insert myself somewhere I’m not wanted.”

“Go prove yourself, buddy.”

“No doubt, right? I’ll talk to you later.”

“Hey Caden!”

“Yeah?”

“Why’d you call?”

“Oh, Mom said Lexi’s dating somebody. You know about this?”

“This is the first I’ve heard about it.”

“Dig into it, will ya?”

“You bet.” We hang up and I dial our sister up as I merge onto my exit.

There are five of us. Me, Caden, Alexis, Samantha and Hunter. But Lexi sure hogs our attention with her crazy impulses. She doesn’t want us looking out for her, but she didn’t choose being born after two protective brothers who want the best for her, despite what she wants.

My call goes to her voicemail.

“Hi, this is Lexi. Leave a message but don’t be upset if I never get back to you.”

Rolling my eyes I wait for the beep. “Yo Lexi, you changed that message because you knew I’d be calling, didn’t you? What’s this about you dating someone? How come Mom knows but your brothers don’t? You afraid we’ll rough him up? Give us a little credit will you?” I smirk because of course we’ll rough him up. She dates bad boys just to get a rise out of us, I’m sure of it. “Give me a call, kid. Don’t make me find you.”

I dial Samantha next.

Another voicemail.

“Hi there! You’ve got my voicemail, sorry! Oh, this is Sam. You know what to do and I’ll get back to you soon! Bye!”

“It’s your big brother. Don’t avoid my calls. I know you’re gonna listen to this two seconds after I hang up. What’s up with Lexi! Stop protecting her. That’s our job.”

Hanging up I mutter, “Don’t protect her from us. Protect her from herself.”

When I get into town, it’s still bugging me. Tapping on the steering wheel I consider if I should harass Mom next. “Why not,” I mutter, hitting her number.

After a couple rings she answers, “Max?”

“Caden told me about Lexi.”

“Do you know who this boy is?”

I frown, “You sound worried.”

“You know Alexis, she’s a little…wild. Her tastes haven’t always been mine in the romantic department, if you know what I mean.”

“I’ll check it out.”

“Thank you. Oh, and Max? How’s your film coming along?”

“Still chugging. Met with an old film school friend tonight—and I use that term loosely. Just left him. Guess I hoped he would hook me up with a producer but the guy he knew just got a job at Marvel. Anyway, it was a waste of time, but I’ll find someone.”

“Why don’t you run an ad?”

Chewing my lip I mutter, “Been thinking about that. Gonna have to. I was hoping to work with someone my fellow alumni had already used. Nice to get actual confirmation of a person’s personality, their capabilities.”

“Widen the net. When I first started out managing Simone back in the day I knocked on every club door I could to get her stage time. And it worked. When something isn’t working, try something else. I had to make them pay attention. In your case, you have to inspire people to work for little pay. It’ll probably end up being someone new to the business with maybe one or two credits, but there are hungry people out there, honey, who love films! Make them see how amazing your script is.”

“You haven’t read my script. But you’re right. I’ll give it a shot. I’m driving up to Trader Joe’s, gotta get some groceries. Let me talk to you later.”

“Max, if you don’t believe in it nobody else will.”

“I believe in it! I’m just…”

“What?”

Whipping around slower drivers I hesitate confessing the real issue. “Look, I don’t want to get you upset.”

“Okay, now you have to tell me!”

“Hang on, let me just park this thing. I don’t know why TJ’s always puts their stores where there’s no parking.”

“Are you at the one on Monroe?”

“Yeah.”

“That’s a pretty big lot.”

“With a ton of other stores in it that people want to go to, like Starbucks! There’s always a line. I’ve got a guy pulling out so I’m good. Anyway, back to the issue. The thing is if I post an ad…we’re not exactly anonymous. I don’t want people signing on because of the family name. I want them to help make this film because they love the medium.”

“Well, that’s ridiculous,” she huffs. “Why make things difficult for yourself on purpose?”

“I have pride. I don’t want Eric’s or Gabriel’s fame to be the reason. Or Uncle Justin! Or Dad! You know what? Forget it. Let’s talk later.”

“Max—”

“—I’m in the worst parking lot in the city so I have to let you go.”

She sighs, “Fine. Goodbye. I love you.”

“Love you, too, Mom, bye.”

We hang up and I pull into the space, jump out of my Jeep and dig my hands in my coat pockets as I head to the store’s entrance, a mural painted of our Atlanta Falcons on the windows wishing them well since they’re 7-and-0 this season. My cousin Eric, their star quarterback is on fire, and his buddy Dion has ran more touchdowns in the last five games than he did all last year.

I gnaw my cheek past the potted plants and reach down to grab a small red basket, opting not to do a full fridge-reload. Just need a few things to tide me over.

“Max?” a voice calls over as I walk by the long lines for the registers.