“Yeah. I mean it was messy messy. They’re pretty good with each other now, but it was about two years of arguing all night every night before the divorce. Then after it, they’d argue over Ainsley and me. If they weren’t mad because one of them wanted us for an event and the other wouldn’t switch weekends, they were mad because one of them wanted to lose us for the weekend so they could do something and the other wouldn’t take us. It was like they each just figured out whatever the other one wanted, then refused to give it. And the whole time Ainsley and I were bargaining chips. Like the only cards Mom and Dad had left to hurt each other, and they were gonna fucking use those cards, you know?”

Brougham’s face was solemn. “That’s fucked.”

“It was. But it was also years ago. It’s been pretty good for a while.”

“I’m glad.” He paused thoughtfully. “Sometimes I wish they would just get divorced, but I don’t know if it’d make it any better. Mostly, I’m just glad I’m heading to college this year.”

“Do you know where you’re going?”

He nodded. “UCLA.”

Oh, that wasn’t far at all. I’d half-expected him to say he was heading back to Australia. Or at least the East Coast. For someone who wanted to escape his parents, he wasn’t running very far. “Fancy.”

“In some ways I probably have Mum and Dad to thank for it,” he went on. “Outside of the whole finances thing, I mean. I used to swim a lot when I was younger because it got me out of the house, but it’s more than that now. I like how predictable it is. You put in effort, and you get results. If you train, you improve. And then I joined a school team when I was younger and found out I was really good at it. Plus, it’s nice to feel useful.”

I got it. After seeing the way his mom looked at him, I completely understood the appeal of performing well and impressing a coach, and his teammates.

Everyone wanted to feel like they were worthwhile at the end of the day.

There was a lull in the conversation, and Brougham excused himself to go to the bathroom. Part of me suspected he didn’t feel comfortable sitting in that vulnerability, but I didn’t call him out on it.

I pulled out my phone to check it as the waitress brought over our coffees. I had one message waiting from Brooke already.

My life is a black hole.

Something very much like guilt pattered against my stomach. At the same time, I couldn’t help noticing how much more attentive she suddenly was. I’d never have heard from her so soon after a catch-up when she was with Ray.