CHAPTER TWELVE
TOMMY
I’m getting ready to leave Ash’s place when Max pulls me aside. “Hey, Tom, are you in a hurry?”
“No, what’s up?”
“Can I catch a ride back with you? You could drop me home on the way if that’s okay. It’s just we need to talk privately.”
“Sure, whatever you want to do.”
My guess is Max just wants to talk things over. I understand. This whole thing is still fresh and it’s going to take some getting used to.
Max scratches his forehead.
“What’s going on, man? Are you okay?” I ask once we’re in the back of the car.
“Not really. I don’t know how to say this.”
“Jesus. Don’t tell me you’ve had a change of heart and want to leave the band too.”
“No.” He huffs out a half-hearted laugh. “Nothing like that. It’s about Chelsea.”
“What about her?” My blood runs cold at the mention of her name.
He sighs. “Remember you told me and Ash that she didn’t come home for a couple of nights? Well, it wasn’t a complete surprise.”
“Look, Max, I know there’s someone else if that’s what you’re trying to tell me.”
“She told you?”
“No, but this is Chelsea we’re talking about. She wouldn’t leave unless she had another meal ticket.”
Max raises an eyebrow. “And here was I, worried about your reaction, but you already knew.”
“I wasn’t sure, but I had a feeling.” I chew my bottom lip but my body feels numb. Having my suspicions confirmed is not a shock. “Are you trying to tell me you know who it is?”
Max rubs a hand down his face. “I know there was someone. Whether it’s a real relationship or not, I’m not sure. Either way, you’re not going to like it.”
“I’m not gonna like any man that sleeps with my wife, am I?”
“Sorry, that was a stupid thing to say, but this one will hit hard. I know how close you are—”
“It’s not Brett, is it?” A shiver runs down my spine at the thought.
“Jesus, no.” He takes a second, then replies. “Sorry, man. It’s Dylan Jennings.”
Initially, I don’t register his name. I close my eyes and continue to bite my lip, letting this news sink in.
“I don’t know how long it’s been going on.”
I hold my hand up to stop him going further. “Start from the top. How do you know this?”
He sighs. “After the last tour party, I went back to Dylan’s to party some more. I didn’t know Chelsea was there, but I walked in on them. She was in his bed.”
There’s a rush of blood to my brain and every muscle in my body tenses. I stare ahead, my eyes losing focus. This is affecting me more than I thought possible. I thought Dylan was a good friend.
He looks at his hands. “I’m sorry, bro. I was torn between keeping my mouth shut and doing the right thing. I didn’t want to hurt you, but the guilt was eating me up.”
My head swims with images, but none of them make sense. “I can’t believe this.”
Dylan is part of my family, a brother. He stays at my place whenever he’s in town. His band joined our tour. He’d never do this to me. Would he?
My hand clenches to form a fist, and my blood is on fire as it surges through my veins. I glance over at Max, and it’s taking everything I have not to punch my hand through the window of this limo.
With Chelsea leaving me so fast and out of the blue, his words now make sense and it all falls into place. How long has it been going on behind my back? Did they plan this whole thing out?
“Who else knows?” I growl towards Max.
“I have no idea. Obviously, Dylan begged me not to say anything, but I told him I couldn’t betray you. That was the last time we spoke. Believe me, Tommy, this has been weighing me down more than you know.”
“What about Chelsea? Did she beg you to keep quiet too?”
He sighs. “She didn’t seem bothered at all.”
I nod slowly. The tic in my jaw is out of control, and I can’t get enough air in my lungs to breathe evenly.
Max scratches his chin and his knee bounces as he stares ahead. “What are you gonna do now? Nothing stupid. He’s not worth it.”
I glance his way while in thought and shake my head a little at his words. “I won’t, and I’ll try to keep my cool with Chelsea in front of Oz, but if I see that wanker in person or he goes anywhere near my kid, I will rip his fucking head off.”
My phone buzzes in my pocket, and her timing couldn’t be worse.
I can’t speak to Angie while I’m so fucking riled up.
I’ll have to call her later when my temper is calm.
I’m not exactly in a position to give her words of encouragement on the subject of love right now, if ever.
I don’t need to add any more anger to my fire.
If I had to be honest, I’m not surprised by anything Chelsea does. What does hurt me is how someone I considered a friend would betray me in the worst way possible. I was the one who gave Dylan a chance years ago when I got his band a spot on our tour. If only I’d known what he was capable of.
I wonder how many of our friends on the tour had any idea. Not Ash, I know that for sure. He wouldn’t hide that from me and when I told him, it blew his mind too. I wasn’t the last to know. I suppose I should be thankful for that.
So, my plan now is to clear my mind, spend time with Ozzie, and tomorrow, fly to the UK.
I’m taking Ash up on his offer and we’re staying with him and his family for a while.
Max will be there too, so it’s crucial that I get my head together before I see him again.
This whole shit show isn’t his fault, and I want him to realise that I wouldn’t know how to handle the situation if I was in his shoes. I don’t want him to feel bad.
Two things I haven’t done yet. One, let my wife know about my travel plans, but if Chelsea had any inclination to be with Ozzie, she would have been in touch by now, or at least picked up when I tried to call. Secondly, I haven’t confronted her about Dylan yet.
“Hey, bud. How about you and I go on an adventure?” I say to Oz the night before our flight. He’s clearing up his Lego while I make dinner.
“Yes!” he squeals. “Where shall we go, Daddy?”
“Uncle Ash said we could stay with him for a while, but we’ve got to fly all the way to England. What do you think?”
“Yes please, but—” His face drops a little. “Will Josh be there?”
“I hope we get to see him,” I say truthfully. I still haven’t caught up with Angie. Her phone constantly goes straight to voicemail. “Why? What’s up?”
He huffs. “I like Zoe and Esme and Zara, but…”
“Go on, bud. You can tell me.”
“Girls are bossy and I’m the only boy.”
I chew the side of my bottom lip. He’s got that right. Ash’s girls are great, but I imagine to a five-year-old boy, they’re pretty scary. “Don’t worry about it. You will definitely spend some time with Josh, okay?”
He nods. “Okay.”
“Why don’t you clear up the rest of your Lego, then we’ll start packing.”
“Is Mom coming with us?”
Shit, I was not prepared for that question.
“Not this time, buddy.”
He scratches his head. “Why not?”
What the hell do I tell him? He thinks she went to stay with a friend, and for now, I’ve got to go with that. I have nothing else. He hasn’t seen her in nearly a week. “Mum is staying with her friend for a while longer, but guess what?”
“What?” he squeals.
“Connie is coming with us.”
“Yay!”
Thank God he loves his nanny. Connie is currently on a night out and won’t be home tonight.
“Now, get your backpack from your wardrobe and start packing a few toys.”
“Okay, Daddy.” Oz runs off towards his room but is soon back with a look of disappointment on his face. “Umm.” He looks around the lounge, with his finger against his lips. “I can’t find Mr Potato Head,” he says, with tears forming in his eyes.
“Hey, guys,” Connie calls from the hall. “What’s going on?”
“Connieeeeeeeeee.” Oz runs towards her and hugs her legs.
“Hey, what are you doing here?” I ask her. “I wasn’t expecting you until the morning.”
“I thought you might need a hand packing,” Connie replies, leaning down and hugging Ozzie, but she isn’t her usual bright self. Her long dark hair is in a tight plait which curls around her neck and sits on her shoulder. She isn’t wearing makeup and her brown eyes are bloodshot.
“Are you okay?”
“Yes, I’m fine.” She nods with a smile that isn’t fooling anyone. “Hey, you,” she says, lifting Oz up into her arms. “I’ve missed you, little buddy.”
“I missed you too, Connie. Can you help me find Mr Potato Head?”
“Sure. Let me just check if your daddy needs me to do any washing or—”
“We’re good. I’ve packed a few things already and, believe it or not, I’m up to date with clean clothes.”
“That’s impressive.”
“I did my washing for a long time before you came along to help, so going to university wasn’t a complete waste of time.” Her half-hearted laugh is less convincing than her smile. “Are you sure you’re okay?” I ask again, but we’re interrupted.
“Mr Potato Head!” Ozzie tugs her sweatshirt, urging Connie to help him look.
“Coming, Oz. You check your toy cupboard and I’ll look in here.”
“But I already looked in there.”
“Then look again, little man.” She sets Oz down and he runs straight to his room, then Connie turns her attention to me. “I’m packed and ready to go, Mr Graham, so just let me know if you need anything at all.”
She is about to leave, but I’ve got a burning question that can’t wait. “Connie, can I ask you something?”
She turns around to face me. “Of course. What’s up?”
“It’s about Dylan Jennings,” I say, scratching the back of my neck.
Her eyebrows rise. “The lead singer of Vocational Rock?”
“Yeah, the one and only.” It takes a lot of effort to smile when I mention his name. “Did he ever visit the apartment when I wasn’t here?”
She puffs out a breath and raises her brows. “No. I’m pretty sure I would be able to pinpoint every visit we ever had from that guy.”
“Yeah, of course.” He’s in one of her favourite bands. Of course she’d mention something like that.
“Is that all, Mr Graham?”
“Yeah. Thanks, Connie.”
“No problem. Should I get Ozzie something to eat?”
“No, we’re good. I’m just making dinner and there’s enough for three if you want to join us.”