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Can’t believe I have to miss leg day. My calves are going to feel flabby all afternoon. Maybe I can rearrange dinner with Sorin tonight so I can double up on my evening gym session.

With that in mind, I called my brother. I’d been planning to speak to him about his current career situation over dinner, but I could save time by doing it during my run.

I was one of eight, and even though we’d all been born in the same brood, I’d been born first, so I liked to think of myself, after Mom of course, as the head of the family—always available to impart wisdom to my siblings and help push them in the right direction in their lives.

“Nuni,” Sorin croaked when he picked up. “You know I am currently unemployed, meaning I no longer work at the bakery, meaning I no longer have to get up at the ass-crack of dawn.”

“I know,” I said defensively, “but I figured you’d maintained your sleeping schedule.”

“No one in their right mind gets up before dawn if they don’t fucking have to.” He yawned loudly. “What do you want?”

“Well, seeing as you brought it up…” I hit the edge of the park and turned right to follow the river. “How’s the job hunt going?”

Sorin had worked as the head baker at his partner’s boutique bakery in the city, which meant that when he discovered Kalek had been cheating on him, he not only had to move out of their apartment above the bakery—which Kalek owned—but also quit his job, seeing as he couldn’t bear the thought of working with him every day.

I’d been all amped up and ready to go kick the guy’s ass, but Sorin had talked me out of it. Seriously though, what kind of asshole cheated on someone they’d been with for five years? I may have been a dog when it came to the ladies, but I was a faithful dog.

Sorin sighed down the phone. “As shitty as the last time you asked. And the last time Mom asked. And the last time Aunt Indi asked.”

I made a face, glancing down at my fitness tracker to check my dual heart rate. “How can there still be nothing out there?”

“There’s not nothing, it’s just…” I heard him struggling upright in bed. “There’s a job going on the production line of the Sacchali factory outside of town,” he said woodenly, referring to a brand that made sweets and store-bought cakes for demiurgus. “Maybe I should just apply for that.”

“Nah, man, that won’t fulfil you.” I passed another jogger and gave him the obligatory nod. “Okay, look, I’ve been thinking. You basically ran that place on your own. Kalek was just the money man. So just open your own bakery.”

There was a pause before Sorin snorted. “Okay, sure. Let me just reach under the bed and pull out the suitcase stuffed with cash that I’ve been saving for a rainy day.”

“No, I mean, let me be your money man. I’ll give you a loan to start up.”

“Nuni…”

“Come on, bro, you know you’re capable. If I ate baked goods, you know I’d be eating yours all the time. They’re the best.”

He snorted. “I seem to remember you eating three cinnamon buns and about ten snickerdoodles at Christmas.”

“That was a cheat day,” I said quickly. “And my diet plan was adjusted by New Year’s to make up for it. Those extra pounds are already long gone, bro.”

“Oh good, I have been worried,” he said sardonically.

“Look, this makes sense. I have the money. I want to lend it to you. Shit, it doesn’t even have to be a loan. I’ll just give it to you.”

“No way,” he said quickly. “I wouldn’t let you do that.”

“Fine then, a loan. I’ll call my guy to start scouting out locations when I get to work.”

“No, wait, Nuni, I haven’t actually agreed to—”

“We can easily find a spot way better than Kalek’s. Prime real estate in the heart of the city. Maybe somewhere in the corporate district so there’s great foot traffic during the week. Oh wait, no, then it’ll be dead at the weekends. What about somewhere off Umbral Square? Constant tourist traffic—”

“Nuni,” he barked, then let out a huff. “I know you’re just trying to help, but you woke me up at… Christ, not even seven to start planning a hypothetical business venture.”

“Not hypothetical. This is fully doable, bro. This could be a reality in… I don’t know, six months if we get to work right now? So I’ll call my guy—”

“Don’t call anyone! Look…” He sighed. “I appreciate the offer, you know I do, but I don’t know how comfortable I am taking money from you.”

“Bro, I want to do this. I want to help you.”

“I know, but…” He sounded uncomfortable. “Opening my own bakery. What if Kalek thinks I’m just trying to… I don’t know, punish him or something?”