Jake stretched his arms overhead in the chair beside her and let out a loud exhale. ‘Like his life’ He rubbed his chin with his forefinger and thumb. ‘I think so. He’s slowing down at work, yes, but not in the love department.’

‘The love department’ Charlie reached behind her head to adjust her pillow. ‘That’s just plain gross.’

‘Oh, come on, Charlie. Twenty-four is old enough to acknowledge that your father is a man whore. There are worse things.’

‘Like what’

‘Like your mother being one.’

Charlie couldn’t help a small smile. ‘Fair point.’

Her phone pinged. She turned to grab it so quickly from the night table that her foot twisted ever so slightly and pain shot up her leg. You playing new haven the text read. Marco.

She smiled despite her pain and the fact that, no, she was not playing the Connecticut Open – nor the US Open, nor any of the Asian tournaments in the rest of the summer and fall. She’d be lucky if she were ready for Australia in the new year.

Hey! Just out of surgery.