My Life Coaches are the Seven Deadly Sins

Dinner was good, Stevie stayed everyone's focus. Even dad kept conversation civil… well he only said about two sentences in about four hours, still, it was much better than I'd been expecting.

"Super secret squirrel stuff, bus doesn't leave until 5, but gotta be checked in by 3:30." Stevie reminded as we were clearing the table.

"Freaking loser, guess you're staying up all night yeah? Need help packing anything?" Robby asked pulling on rubber gloves to start handwashing dishes.

"Naw, can't even bring anything really. It'll be confiscated until I'm done with boot camp. I'll be able to send letters," Stevie stated as he stretched his back out.

"Sounds like all the fun! It's about a forty minute drive from the house, cards?" I asked as I emptied out the nearly overflowing garbage can. We all fell back into rhythm so easily, it was moments like this I missed life before… well anyway.

"Awww hell yeah! What are we thinking? Phase ten? Or hand and foot?" Robby asked with an exaggerated bellow that should have shaken the windows.

Stevie rolled his eyes, "Ma and pops aren't joining us so phase ten, I'm gonna make a drink, want anything?"

"Whatever you're drinking, but…, like half the booze, someone has to drive us." Robby added squinting at Stevie suspiciously.

"Fucking pussy. Just admit you're a light weight and move on." Stevie smirked rolling his shoulders as he headed to the fridge. "Max, bring the kraken in yeah? Outside freezer."

"Kay!" I called slipping my shoes on to take the garbage out. I grabbed the chilled alcohol taking quick inventory of everything… yep, dad's cooking vodka still took up nearly the entire outside fridge. I checked the red toolbox that had been off limits all our lives, yep, still stocked with painkillers. I sighed. Not sure why I even bothered checking.

Stevie made himself a generous kraken and coke, Robby had a regular, and I drank… orange juice. I rarely imbibed, maybe two or three times a year.

"Hey, Why don't you give Maxxie shit for drinking juice but I get all the weak jokes?" Robby demanded slamming his palm on the table mid game.

Stevie rolled his eyes, "Cause Maxxie can hold his liquor, you short shirt, are blushing like a babe after one drink."

I picked up Robby's discarded seven. Just needed a 5, 12, or wild to lay down. If I drew a five or wild I could go out.

"That don't mean shit if he never drinks! Hey! Did you take my seven?! What the fuck!" Robby demanded pointing his bobbing finger in my face. Or… at least he tried to.

"You didn't lay a seven down, you laid down that three, remember?" Stevie stated so matter of factly, if I wasn't his brother, I'd have believed him.

Robby withdrew his finger, "Oh, right. Yeah… what round am I on again?" He stared at his phase card, checking his hand repeatedly. Guess I would be driving us.

"Oh right," Just as Stevie started to say something my phone started vibrating on the table… they stared at me expectantly.

I laid my cards faced down, then checked the caller ID, Rusty. I hesitated, then accepted they call, "Hey Rusty, what's up?" I asked as Stevie made an exaggerated well hello face. I flushed.

"Hey Max! Super short notice! But we're having a lake party next week, wanted to know if you could make it!" Her cheerful voice was like a bomb in otherwise silent room. Robby was looking at me bug eyed, pointing, gaping like a fish.

"Uh, sure, oh, wait, what day?" I asked half hoping she said Saturday so I could go… half hoping she'd say Sunday so I couldn't.

"Saturday! Dillon will drop by in the evening, but Jake and Jack will pick you up around one! No gym, but bring your running shoes! See you soon Max!" Rusty stated.

"Oh, uh, see you Saturday." I agreed, then realized what I'd just done… dang she was good. I didn't even have time to think of an excuse… but I did want to see one of these lake parties, no one had pictures.

"Kay! Tell your brothers hi from us! Bye Bye!" Rusty giggled before hanging up. I slowly turned to my brothers.

"My turn yet?" I asked picking my cards up.

"Well well well, who is Rusty?" Robby asked waggling his eye brows, "Don't hold out, any pictures? Where'd you meet? Who's Dillon? And… did she say Jake?" It wasn't until a card smacked Robby in the face that the tirade came to an end.

"Breathe, let the man speak!" Stevie lowered his hand then interlaced his fingers under his chin as he waited for answers.

"I just met her today, she's Jake and Jack's cousin, they invited me to their gym. Dillon… helped me get the apartment, Jake and Jack are friends of Dillon. I met them, they helped both of us… move. No pictures," I added making sure I answered all of Robby's questions.

"She cute? Sounds like she's interested." Stevie said with a grin, "Dang, now I want to go to this lake party."

"I'll go with him! Take all the pictures! Don't you worry." Robby grinned mischievously.

"No." I glared looking at them both, "It's a private, invite only kind of party. No pictures either. Even Dillon, who's been going for years, doesn't take pictures."

Both furrowed their brows, but before Robby could launch into a new tirade Stevie held his hand out.

"He's an adult Robby, stop treating us like we're still five. On the other hand Max, just stay smart." Stevie said looking at both of us, then drained the last of his drink. "Robby, smoke break?"

Robby was gritting his teeth but stood up, "Yeah, smoke break."

"I'll break out more snacks." I glanced at the time, already after midnight. "And start a pot of coffee." I added knowing Robby preferred ice coffee, it would need time to cool. I thought they were just using smoke break as a way to get outside to talk… but they came back in sweating… "Did you guys… fight or something?"

Stevie shook his head as he grabbed a chilled bottle of water from the fridge, "Naw, new smoke break is five to ten minutes of exercise. Tubby over here heard about it from a friend, so we've adopted it."

I glanced at them, then to myself… damn. If Robby is considered Tubby… I must be a bread.

"You never liked the gym Max, it's different, what made you start going?" Stevie asked between swigs of water.

I shrugged, "I was… invited I guess."

"We- smack" the empty water bottle smacked into Robby's chest before he could finish.

"Cool, you get any flats yet?" Stevie asked as if he hadn't just thrown his empty bottle at Robby.

"Oh shit! What are flats? They asked if I had any today." I recalled staring expectantly at Stevie.

"Flats are just flat footed shoes for weight lifting." Stevie explained sending a glare at Robby to keep him quiet.

"Uhh, sneakers… won't work?" I asked uncertainly.

Stevie gave a half smile, "Nope, sneakers will throw your balance, fucks up your back real good. If we had time I'd take ya to my favorite place. Maybe Robby can take you before you head back tomorrow?"

I hesitated, "I need to return the ring anyway, uh, sounds good." Well shit, more money I needed to spend… at least my membership was only $15. Maybe I should grab swimming trunks too…

As we sat down to finish our game up, Robby shot up cursing.

"Fuck you Max! Fucking Hell Stevie!!! That was my seven! Fucking lairs the both of you!"

I had just finished the phase. Instead of being a good brother and just laying down enough to get on the board, I went completely out.