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Apparently, I enjoyed splinters.

“Are you leaving after dinner?” she probed.

“Yeah. Can’t stay too long. My brother’s in town, on leave from Japan.”

“Mm.” She tensed, her features pinching with unease as her grip tightened around the handle of the spoon. “How’s Radley doing these days?”

“Good. Military life suits him.” I shuffled between feet, glancing down at the ivory tiles, wondering if I should have made something up about my plans.

After all, Radley was a contributing factor to our relationship breaking down.

My idiotic brother had fallen in love with her.

She was three years older than him, but he’d become smitten. It’d been a point of contention throughout the latter part of my relationship with Whit, culminating in an explosive confrontation one night outside her parents’ house.

I’d accused her of cheating.

She’d slapped me.

I’d stormed out.

In the weeks that had followed, communication between us had dwindled, and the strain caused by Radley’s asinine crush had become too much to weather through. Eventually, Whit and I had decided to take a break, hoping that some time apart would allow us to reassess our priorities.

But as weeks turned into months, Whitney and I had drifted further apart. It’d become crystal clear that our relationship had run its course, and the presence of my brother as a persistent third party had only complicated things. Whitney had eventually confessed that she’d slept with Radley, and that revelation had been the final blow to any hopes of a reconciliation.

I’d been pissed, and it had taken years to repair the damage between all three of us.

And while their tryst hadn’t lasted, the betrayal I felt had. Five years had gone by before I’d reconnected with my only sibling. My only real family member. After losing both of our parents as teenagers, we were all each other had.

But he was content being overseas serving our country. And even though I enjoyed our occasional get-togethers, the distance worked for us.

Skimming a hand through my hair, I cleared my throat. “I’ll tell him you said hi.”

The statement hit too close to home, and Whit’s eyes flared when she popped her head up. She blinked at me, a look of regret coasting across her face. “Thanks. What are your plans?”

“Just grabbing a drink and catching up.” I wedged my shoulder against the wall. “I haven’t seen him since the move to Charleston. It’s been years.”

My brother had invited me to a popular pub in town, and while I wasn’t much for the bar scene these days, I was looking forward to seeing him.

Our relationship was complicated, but I was in my mid-thirties now. Long-term grudges didn’t sit well with me, especially after experiencing how quickly time flew. Being a dad was a bucket of ice-cold water being dumped on me with every year that ticked by.

Tara was morphing into a young woman before my eyes. She was getting older every day.

And so was I.

Whitney brought dinner to the table and we sat across from each other, waiting for Tara to bound down the staircase. Five minutes later, my daughter took a seat beside me in her plaid pajamas, her hair pulled up into a high ponytail, and pecked a kiss to my cheek.

“Hey, Dad. You’re looking dapper,” she teased. “Hot date?”

“I’m going out with your Uncle Rad.”

“Ooh, the fun Madsen brother. One day he’ll teach us his ways.”

My expression soured. “He’ll teach you nothing.”

“Why not? He’s like Peter Pan with a sprinkling of sarcasm.”

“I’ll let him know you want him to wear tights.”

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