Page 28 of Off the Post

“Most likely Tanner.” I chuckle with a shoulder shrug and then add, “But not by much. And he⁠—”

“Probably cheated.”

“Exactly. You know Tanner. He will do almost anything to win.”

Laughter rings out and a new kind of energy flows between us, building like a river current heading toward the rapids. A strong rush of exhilaration and anticipation.

“Your brother hasn’t changed much. He’s still loud, obnoxious, and⁠—”

“Extra,” I blurt.

Soren cocks his pointed finger and thumb at me like a pistol firing. “Facts.”

He tilts his head to the side and runs the pad of his thumb over the blond stubble on his chin.

“I didn’t realize you and Tanner were related when we first met.”

My stomach clenches as he regards me. It’s embarrassing when people learn we’re siblings now that I work for his foundation and what they must think.

I shrug. “Well, we don’t publicize it, but we have different mothers. Tanner’s mom didn’t give him our dad’s last name when he was born. There was some animosity at that point between my dad and Camille, for very valid reasons.” I scrunch my nose and screw my lips. “It was a whole thing I won’t bore you with.”

He nods in understanding, but I can see he’s doing the math. I don’t feel the need to elaborate on my father’s affair with Tanner’s mother. All that matters is that Tanner, for all his quirks, faults, and hubris, has always been a good older brother to me.

“But you are close, ja?”

I grin at the interest in our relationship. “Yes. Even though a border ran between our homes, we really didn’t grow up too far from each other. I was raised in upstate New York, not far from Montreal. Until he started billeting, Dad made sure we had regular visits throughout the year.”

Soren replaces the framed photo on my desk, positioning and then repositioning it several times so that it’s in the same spot and facing the same direction as it had been before.

His attention to this detail is quirky and kind of cute.

“Say what you will about Tanner, but there’s no one out there with a bigger heart than him.” I wink. “How about you? I think you mentioned that Anna is your brother’s wife. Was he able to visit as well?”

Soren’s dark gaze drops entirely and he dips his chin down to his chest. Something in the sudden disconnect makes me think I’ve just said something wrong.

There’s a long stretch of silence before he says quietly, “Nein. He cannot visit.”

“Oh, I’m sorry. Well, maybe another time then.”

“Hmm.” He harrumphs with a shake of his head. He nervously begins tapping his thumb in rapid succession on his thigh. “Probably not.”

His response is confusing, but it’s obvious he doesn’t want to discuss it further.

“Well, I don’t want to keep you much longer than necessary. I know you still have family in town.” I raise an eyebrow, hoping it gives him the opportunity to expound.

“Nein. They left yesterday, back to Austria.”

Sorrow radiates through his tone, and I’m heartsick for him. Soren is clearly shattered over having to see them go, and it makes me wonder what happened to cause such grief around thoughts of his family.

“I’m so sorry to hear that,” I offer in apology. Disregarding the loud voice inside my head that is screaming, Do not touch, I move to the seat next to his and place my hand on top of his solid forearm. A seismic jolt runs up my arm like a shooting flame. “It’s clear that they mean the world to you.”

“Ja.”

I give him an encouraging smile. “Well, I’m hopeful that these photos bring you joy when you look at them. Maybe that will help make the distance a little less painful.”

I’m about to reach for my laptop when he clasps a firm hand around my wrist. His fingers pulse warm against my skin, the heat from his palm penetrating through like sunlight through glass.

“Ali.” He pronounces the two syllables in a way that makes my name sound more like Muhammad Ali instead of alley, and I love it. “Danke. Thank you for giving me this gift. You went above and beyond.”