“Eww,” I said. “How can you eat that stuff?”

He shrugged. “I’m practicing being single.”

“Thanks for pretending to be Polly’s baby daddy,” I said. “I’m sure she appreciated the gesture.”

“You know me, act first, think later.” Johnny spun the beer bottle around to find a colder spot, pressed it gently to his eye. “I like Poppy a lot. And given my current circumstances, being her wingman seemed like a better use of my time than, say, killing myself.”

“Don’t even joke about that.”

“Don’t worry. I talk big, but I’ve got no follow through.” He put the beer down, ran his hand through his hair. “You know, I used to daydream that Kim was dying. Not painfully or anything.”

“Perfectly normal. I used to daydream that I accidentally put Nair in Kevin’s shampoo so his hair would fall out and he’d think he was dying. Actually, I might possibly have done it. Just once though.”

“I’ll file that one away in case I need it. Anyway, I guess I’m kind of relieved Kim shook things up first so I didn’t have to. Also kind of pissed. Occasionally apoplectic even.”

“Good high-end vocabulary word. How did it go with you and Kim at Driftwood?”

“Okay. I think she was expecting drama, but I stayed calm. She didn’t mention the work husband and neither did I. I think she’s living at our house alone though. We’re going to spend Christmas with the kids there. Beyond that, I have no idea.”

“It’s a start,” I said. “Hey, I’m sorry that I threw all that childhood stuff at you. I meant it, but I apologize for the timing.”

I once read that evolutionary scientists say there’s a biological explanation for the force of the sibling bond. Siblings share half of their genes, so that mutual connection and devotion is always lurking just below the surface, even when you lose it for a while.

Johnny reached over from the dinette and opened the postage stamp-sized refrigerator. He pulled out two water bottles, handed one to me.

“I’m sorry I treated you like that,” he said. “I may not have always been the best brother, but I would have laid down my life for you in a second if anyone else messed with you. Still would.”

“I appreciate that,” I said. “And ditto.”

When Johnny smiled, he looked just like our dad. “I’m sorry I just showed up here after not being around very much all these years.”

I took a long gulp of water. Even if I was exhausted tomorrow, at least I wouldn’t be dehydrated. “I always thought of you as the family escape artist, the one who got away.”