Saving Max

Chapter 11

Hey guys! Can you please read the author's note at the end of the chapter? It would mean a lot, I have some news to share! Thanks, and enjoy the chapter...

"How many times do I have to say sorry, Josh!" I sigh, pushing my phone harder against my ear. He's making me feel awful about not spending a lot of time with him over his break, guilt tripping me the entire time we've been on the phone. Seeing as he's scheduled to fly back to school in two days, he's disappointed that we didn't spend more time together.

Don't get me wrong, I'm disappointed, too. He doesn't come home very often since his school is so far away, not to mention how much money it cost to get a flight. My family is far from rich, and we can't afford a flight for the three of us to go out and see him. And Josh is working as an intern right now at a small traveling agency, so he definitely doesn't have enough money to fly out to us as often as he wants to. He already has a good amount of debt in students loans, so all the money he can save, even if it means not seeing his family, is a small step in paying them off.

"I feel like I've spent more time with Katie than I have my own sister." he mumbles sadly, causing a frown to appear on my face. Damn, here he goes again...

"I'm sorry." I whisper, sitting down on the old couch. Caden gives me a worried look from the kitchen, holding a hopeful thumbs up. I shake my head, waving him off. Does he really think it's good news if I'm saying sorry? Stupid boys. 

When my phone first rang and I saw it was Josh, I didn't really feel like getting in to it again. We already fought about it last night, and I wasn't exactly too keen on fighting with him yet again. I explained to Caden really quick what was going on, and he laughed and wished me luck, going back to fixing lunch for the three of us.

That was two hours ago.

While Josh was ranting I scarfed down my roast beef sandwich, just setting the phone face down on the counter. I couldn't have cared less by then. Even though I felt bad, I had other obligations to uphold. 

"I know that you're a teenager and you're trying to make the most of your senior year, but it would have ben nice if you could have worked in some time for your family, too, squirt." he tells me, a grin breaking out on my face at the nickname he gave me so many years ago. I don't even remember why he started calling me squirt, it just sort of happened.

"Hey, I know that you were going to go out tonight, but mom is having a couple of my friends over for dinner. Why don't you join us, it'll be fun." I suggest, already imagining what he'll say when he finds out it's a boy. Especially Caden. Yikes.

At my words Caden's head snaps in my direction, his eyebrows furrowing. I let out a small laugh, walking over to him and patting his shoulder a few times, his body still motionless.

"That sounds good. Mom hasn't shut up about it for, like, a week." he chuckles, a happiness to his voice that I love hearing. It's ten times better than hearing him wallowing through the phone.

I'm glad he's not mad anymore, finally letting it go. Or, at least he's not thinking about being mad at me anymore. I'll take whatever I can get, I suppose.

"Cool, see you tonight. I think she wants us there by six." I tell him, nodding to myself.

"Six it is. See you later baby sis, love you." he says, not waiting a beat before hanging up he phone, making me scoff.

"Love you, too." I sigh, shoving my phone in to my back pocket, placing my hand on Max's shoulder. He's finishing his homework at the table, only having come out of his room when my yelling died down. I was rather upset with Josh earlier...

"Is that dinner really tonight?" Caden asks me, hoping up on to the kitchen counter effortlessly, his arms flexing to do so. I only avert my eyes for a split second to look at them before focusing back on his shiny blue eyes.