‘Anyone for more coffee?’ Lindy barely listened to their answers as she drifted over to switch the coffee machine on, hoping they’d move on from the subject. She was uneasy about it all. The house represented in a very visceral way how locked in to Maxxed Out they actually were. She thought about the VR-helmet crisis constantly, felt it simmering just under the still surface at all times, threatening to spill over into their life. She just felt so trapped. Trying to ignore how much it hurt for fear of jeopardising Maxxed Out seemed to underscore just how warped her relationship had become.
‘I see Adam and Max are enjoying the new set-up?’ Sigrid watched out the window, checking out the filming that was underway.
Adam was practically prancing for the cameras. ‘We’re going on a dino hunt. Can’t wait to use our super awesome Squirt Rocket 500s to snare some of the raptors. Right, Max?’
‘Whatever you want, Dad,’ Max replied with barely concealed boredom.
‘Cut,’ Adam yelled and gestured for the production crew, Eric and Peter, to reset. ‘Max, we’re really gonna need some better energy than that, buddy.’
Sigrid turned back to Lindy. ‘We have Clem acting up all the time now. It is such a pain in the ass.’
Outside Max continued to look moody. ‘Whatever, Adam.’
‘This is really not him.’ Lindy bit her lip. He’d been off since they’d told him she wasn’t going to be the CEO any more.
‘Buddy.’ Outside, Adam was speaking through clenched teeth and clearly trying to stay calm in the face of Max’s lacklustre performance. ‘Squirt Rocket 500 is basically paying the entire car lease this month, so do you think you could play the scene with a bit more enthusiasm?’
‘Sure, whatever.’ Max shrugged, looking glum. Lindy spotted Eric and Peter exchanging looks.
‘Can you please stop with the “whatevers”? Don’t say that word again,’ Adam warned.
‘Wh’evs …’ Max rolled his eyes, and Adam exploded.
‘Max! Goddammit,’ he erupted.
‘Oh God,’ Lindy whimpered involuntarily.
‘Don’t stress, honey.’ Sigrid waved a hand airily. ‘They’re all at it. My kids are the pits at the moment. They’re getting older. Thinking they’re in control of the whole show.’
She could see Adam storming over to Eric and Peter. ‘We’ll take five, guys.’ They retreated to the outdoor lounge area to vape and presumably bitch quietly at yet another disruption to the day’s filming.
Max was stomping away from the house and down the garden, ignoring Adam.
‘Gals, I’m just going to check on things – I’ll be right back.’ Lindy slid out the doors.
At the end of the garden, Max was doing haphazard push-ups, his skinny arms shaking.
‘Hey, you’re doing great!’
‘Uh-huh,’ he replied with a little difficulty. ‘I’m on … twenty … five.’
‘Wow, that’s amazing!’ She crouched beside him. ‘Are you sure you’re OK? You don’t seem to be having as much fun today as you usually do. Is there something on your mind? You can ask me anything, you know, and I will always tell you the truth.’
He abandoned the push-ups and sat cross-legged considering this while nervously twisting his hands in his lap. Eventually he looked up. ‘Are you and Dad breaking up? Is that why you’re not in charge of Maxxed Out any more?’ His brow furrowed, and seeing him creased with worry made Lindy’s throat constrict.
‘No! Absolutely not.’ Her heart stuttered at making this promise that she had no idea she could keep. But what the hell elsecouldshe say to that? She frantically searched for words to reassure him, words that were less definitive. She wrapped her arms around him. ‘And if anything like that ever happened, it would have nothing to do with you or the channel. We love you. So. Much. With all of my heart, sweetheart. I love you. You’re the best thing that ever happened to me.’
He pulled back to look up at her. He suddenly looked so young again. Her baby. ‘I just …’
‘What is it, sweetheart? Is it Maxxed Out? Do you not want to do it any more?’
‘I do wanna keep doing Maxxed Out! It’s not that.’
‘Are you sure it’s not? Are you feeling down about something?’
Max looked a bit stumped himself and Lindy felt stricken. It was a lot for him to comprehend, this odd internet fame that none of them had set out to achieve. He still claimed to enjoy the videos, being goofy and creative in front of the camera, and he and Adam always seemed to love trooping off to conventions to meet the thousands of Maxxed Out fans. She felt so conflicted.I’m the parent. If the show is affecting Max badly, I should be putting a stop to it regardless of what he’s claiming to want. He’s just a child.
Finally, he asked, ‘Why did you not want to be CEO any more? Is the channel not doing good or something?’
