Max doesn't know why he expects Brian to start yelling. He knows Brian's not like that, and that the two of them have never been like that with each other. Maybe it's because he feels like he deserves it. He's been gone for fucking days, and if Brian asks where he's been, he's not even going to have an answer.

"Yeah," Max says, and he lifts his keys in response, jingling them a little in his hand. The thing is, he doesn't know where the hell he's supposed to start here. Running one hand through his hair as he tries to forget his pounding head, Max crosses the room to the kitchen, setting his keys on the counter.

"Take the day off?"