Why do you care?
It takes him so long to answer that by the time his response comes, I’m in the back seat of a cab, halfway home.
Jeremy
Just making sure you get home safe. You’re alone in the big, bad city after all.
Me
Whatever. I’m in a cab on the way home now, sitting in insane traffic.
He doesn’t respond at all after that, so I shove my phone into my pocket and stare out the window as the cab inches uptown.
* * *
My phone rings again just as I’m getting off the elevator in my apartment building. I pull it out and roll my eyes when I see my brother Elliot’s name and the absolutely ridiculous picture he added to his contact in my phone of him and his dog wearing matching sweaters. I consider not answering, but if I don’t, he’ll just call back a thousand times until I do.
“What?” I say by way of greeting as I hold my phone between my head and shoulder and stop walking while I dig my keys out of the bag on my shoulder.
“Fuck dude, you really have to work on your manners.”
“I just finished a twenty-four-hour shift. I’ll remember my manners after I’ve showered and eaten something that didn’t come out of a vending machine.”
“You know you really should bring lunch to the hospital. It’s way healthier than whatever crap you’re eating, and probably better for your surgical skills.”
“You teach computer science. What exactly do you know about surgical skills?”
“Fuck off. I have a PhD in computer science and tenure at one of the best universities in the country. I know things. Killer, sit,” Elliot says, and I assume he’s talking to his dog, which means this could go on for a while. “No, sit. We talked about this. Sit means sit, not jump on the furniture and eat my plants. Little shit.” His voice is full of fondness, and I swear, he loves that tiny dog of his more than he loves most people, and that’s saying something because Elliot loves everyone. Kind of like I used to. Now I just barely tolerate everyone. I am suddenly exhausted into my bones.
“Was there a reason you called?” I finally locate my keys and make my way down the hall.
Elliot scoffs. “Do I need a reason to call my big brother? I mean, you never come home, so the least you can do is talk to me on the phone.”
“I’m busy saving lives. I don’t have time to come to Boston.” Don’t have time to come. Don’t want to come. Exactly the same thing.
“Okay, sure, we’ll go with that.’
I get to my apartment and slide my key in the lock, frowning when I realize the door is already unlocked. “What the fuck?” I mutter.
“What?” Elliot asks idly. I still hear him whispering to his dog, so it’s possible he’s not actually paying attention.
“My door is unlocked.”
“Did you forget to lock it when you left yesterday?”
“How the fuck do I know? That was twenty-six hours, two sets of rounds, and five surgeries ago.” Five mind-numbingly boring surgeries on full grown people.
“Okay, well be careful. You live in New York. Anything can happen there.”
“It’s the Upper West Side of Manhattan, in a doorman building. I’m sure it’s fine.”
“Well, if you get kidnapped, just remember that you’ve always been my favorite brother.”
“I’m not getting kidnapped,” I mutter as I shove open the door. I stop short when I see none other than Jeremy lounging on my couch, phone in hand and shit-eating grin on his face.
“Uh, what the fuck are you doing here?”
“Who’s there?”
