Page 37 of Don't Quit the Day Job

"Why, I'm not sure what you mean."

"Is it because you know you can’t be faithful and you just want a different woman every night?"

"Marie, I know you think I'm a player and I know you think that I have all these women, but trust me when I say I do not have a different woman every night. If I did, do you think I would be on the phone with you right now?"

"That's true," she admits. "But you never settle down and you never talk about wanting to get married or have kids or..."

"Because I don't know that I see that in my life plan," I say. "Not that I have anything against it, but it's just not my dream right now. It's not a goal of mine."

"You don't want to be in love and have that special person in your life that you can just chat with and hang out with and..." She sighs. "I mean, don't you ever feel lonely, Max?"

I pause for a second and think about her words. "Sometimes," I say, realizing that it's true. "Sometimes when I'm sitting on the couch and watching a movie and I laugh or get sad, I think about turning to the person next to me and seeing how they feel. But there's no one there."

"I know the feeling," Marie says. "I hate watching movies by myself."

"I know, but what about your best friend? What's her name again?" I feel bad that I can't remember her best friend's name.

"You can't remember my best friend's name?" she says, feeling hurt.

"It's Poppy," I say, laughing.

"You’re crazy," she says. "Poppy and I are no longer best friends. My new best friend is Bella."

"Oh yeah," I say, vaguely remembering a long story involving Poppy, Bella, and a handbag that they'd all wanted. "You're not going to miss her when you come to New York?"

"No, because I never see her. She got a boyfriend and all they do is make out and I don't want to be a third wheel."

"You don't mind being a third wheel with me?" I ask her.

"Well, you don't have a girlfriend, so why would I be a third wheel?"

"Touché," I say, laughing. "You do realize that I work a lot and I'm going to have to get a nanny or something, or a live-in governess, right?"

"A live-in governess. Are you kidding me, Max? I'm eighteen, not eight."

"Well, I'm just saying there's going to have to be someone here to help with chores and cooking and looking after you and making sure you don't sneak out or have men over or boys or whatever you call the guys that you date."

"I don't date."

"Yeah. Well, maybe when you come to The City, you’ll feel differently about that."

"Fine," she says. "Do whatever you’ve got to do just as long as I can get out of here."

"Okay. I'll give Dad a call tomorrow and we'll figure it out. Okay?"

"Thank you, Max. That's why you're my favorite big brother ever."

"That's because I'm your only big brother."

"I know, but I love you."

"I love you too, little sis. You have a good night. Okay?"

"You too. And don't spend too much time not thinking about Lila."

"I don't—" I start protesting, but she hangs up.

I shake my head as I place the phone down on the counter and stare off into the night.

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