CHAPTER SIXTEEN
TOMMY
I can’t stop thinking about her. My feelings for Angie are changing, or maybe not. Maybe I’ve always felt this way.
She loved Scott, I know that. When Angie married him, there was never a chance of us being together. She found her soul mate. After he died, we became friends, and I was happy with that. I was there for her. Now I’m single, and she’s dating. I don’t like it.
Oz has a play date with Josh, and Max and I are in the music room messing around with a song we’re writing, when we hear Connie calling my name and Oz squealing at the top of his voice.
I leap up, my drumsticks fly in the air.
My stool falls to the ground and the cymbals take a tumble as I scramble to get to my kid.
Max follows close behind, and I swear we must miss two or three steps on the way down.
When I get there, I find the last person I expect to see.
“What a welcome. Two rock stars for the price of one. Hello, baby,” she sneers while our son squeals with happiness in her arms.
“Holy shit,” Max utters from behind me.
“Chelsea. What the fu—”
“Watch your language in front of the kids, you two.”
I glance at Connie, who hugs Josh tight, probably out of sheer panic by the look on her face.
“I’m so sorry, Tommy. I didn’t know what to do, and Mrs Graham just barged in.”
“How dare you, Connie. I didn’t barge in. I have every right to see my son. Just remember who you work for.”
“Oh, she does, and it isn’t you. Not anymore,” I growl.
Chelsea has no idea how hard I’m fighting to keep my temper. I don’t want to frighten the kids or Connie. I stride towards Chelsea and hold out my arms towards Oz.
“Come here, buddy.” As much as possible, I keep my tone calm.
“I don’t think so,” Chelsea snaps, swinging him away from me.
My teeth grind together, but again, I have to think of my boy. “Oz, could you do Daddy a favour?”
His little face beams. “Yes, Daddy.” I don’t want to spoil his happiness. I know he’s missed his mum and I’ve got to try and handle this in the best way for him.
“Good boy. Daddy needs to talk to Mummy. Can you go with Connie and Josh for a little while?”
His little face drops as he cuddles up closer to Chelsea. “But I want to see Mom.”
Christ, I wish I could wipe that smirk off her face.
“I won’t be long. Then you can spend some time with her. Okay?”
He nods with a pout and gives her another squeeze before she puts him down.
“I can’t wait to hear all your news, my beautiful boy,” she tells him while giving me the side eye.
Connie takes Oz’s hand and is about to lead the boys out of the room.
“Max, can you go with them?” I ask.
“Sure, man.”
“No, there’s no need,” Connie says defensively.
“I know, but it would make me feel better,” I tell her.
“And I might say something I regret if I don’t get away from this bitch, so you’re doing me a favour, Connie,” Max adds.
“If you must,” she agrees, but she isn’t happy as she leads the boys away.
I wave to Oz and wait until they’ve left the room completely. I don’t want them to hear this conversation.
“What do you want, Chelsea?”
“I came for my son.”
So, she does want joint custody. She’s a little early for her turn if that’s the case. “The month isn’t over yet.”
Her lips twist together before she says, “You misunderstand me. I want him permanently.”
I laugh out loud. “Please tell me you’re not serious.”
“My lawyer seems to think the court will be on my side seeing as you’re on tour so much. It’s not fair to leave Oz on his own.”
“Jesus, get with it, Chelsea. Didn’t you hear?
We’re a band member down and not touring anywhere right now.
Even if we were, I’d never leave Oz behind, especially not with you.
In case you haven’t realised, Connie comes everywhere with us now and I have it on good authority that she was looking after him full-time while I was away. You’ve been MIA more times than not.”
“And I suppose she told you that herself.”
“Nope,” I lie, but her reaction tells me all I need to know.
She turns scarlet. “What the hell are you implying?”
“Nothing,” I say sarcastically. “I’m telling you a hard fact. I wasn’t the only parent absent during our world tour. Where were you, Chelsea?”
Her mouth opens and closes as she struggles to find the words.
“Okay, let’s put it another way. Did you fool around behind my back, because I’ve been doing a little digging, and guess what I found?” I raise my brows, knowing full well what her answer should be.
“If you’re implying, I’ve been unfaithful, you’re wrong.”
“Am I?” I reply with a measured tone, but I’m feeling anything but calm inside. “Are you and Dylan Jennings together? It’s just that I checked out a few dates, and the nights you went missing in action, Dylan’s band wasn’t our support act.”
Her mouth drops, and she looks away.
“Are you seeing him or not?”
“No, of course not.” She turns her back on me, keeping her focus on the window. I can’t hold my anger in any longer and lose it as I follow her.
“That’s bullshit.”
Spinning around to face me head on, she stuns me again. “We’re getting off track. I came here to take my son home, and that’s what I intend to do.”
“You’ve come a long way to be disappointed. I suggest you fly back to New York and rethink what you’re trying to do. This isn’t the best way to build a long-term relationship with your son, especially if you want visiting rights in the future.”
I want Oz to have a good relationship with his mum, but if he were to live with her, I can’t guarantee he’d get her full attention. If we have joint custody, I can make sure he sees her regularly, not when it takes her fancy.
She’s speechless again because she knows I’m right, plus I have grounds for divorce, and infidelity is not a good look.
“Hey, what’s going on?” Angie asks as she opens the garden door. She stops in her tracks as soon as she spots Chelsea. Ordinarily, I’d be over the moon to see her, but this is bad timing. I’m all too aware that Chelsea will use her visit against me.
“Oh, shit. Sorry, Tommy. I didn’t mean to interrupt. I’m just here to collect Josh. I didn’t realise you had company,” she says.
“Oh my God,” Chelsea shouts. “What is little miss ex-girlfriend doing here?”
I cross my arms over my chest. “You know damn well that Angie lives next door.”
Chelsea smirks sarcastically. “And she comes and goes as she pleases.”
“I’m here to collect my son,” Angie says as if she’s trying to defend herself.
“And even if you weren’t here for Josh, this is Ash and Calla’s home, and you’re part of their family, Angie. You don’t have to justify anything to anyone, especially not her,” I say, turning towards Chelsea, who rolls her eyes.
“Where’s Josh?” Angie asks with urgency in her voice. I don’t blame her for wanting to get out of here.
“Upstairs with Connie.”
“Okay. I’ll just go up and collect him, then I’ll get out of your hair.” Angie marches towards the stairs and mumbles under her breath, “I’m not sure I can bite my tongue where she’s concerned.”
Chelsea places her hands on her hips, pouts her lips and squints her eyes in Angie’s direction. “Considering you’re the one messing with my husband, I think it should be me biting my tongue.”
Angie stops abruptly and turns back on her heels. She’s a little flushed but ready to rumble. “What did you say?”
A sarcastic smile forms across Chelsea’s lips. “Oh, come on. The grieving widow act only works for so long.”
She did not just say that. What a bitch. I still wonder what the hell got into me on the day I married her.
“Chelsea, that’s enough,” I snap and step in front of her. “Get out now. You’re just here to cause trouble.”
I sense Angie at my back. Her gentle hand lands on my shoulder. “No, Tommy. Let her get whatever it is off her chest.”
Angie has no idea what she’s let herself in for, and Chelsea doesn’t hesitate to say exactly what’s on her mind.
She pouts sarcastically. “Well, we’re all adults here, so I’ll say it how I see it. You two have obviously been plotting this for some time. It’s oh so convenient for you to be ‘just next door’.” She air-quotes. “Where are Ash and Calla, anyway?” she asks, looking between us.
“None of your business,” I snap, crossing my arms once again.
“Well, they’re clearly not here. We both know that bitch, Calla, would be butting her nose into our business if she was around, but instead, they’ve left you two love birds to play house.”
My jaw clenches. “Chelsea—” I warn.
She walks around the room like she owns it. “Don’t try to cover it up. You were in love with this bitch way before I came on the scene…”
While Chelsea continues to rant, Angie looks towards me, her eyes wide. I swallow hard. I can’t deny I care about her more than a friend should.
“…It’s a shame it took me so long to see it, but now it’s all so clear. I just can’t believe Scott never spotted it.”
Angie breaks our eye contact and takes a few firm steps towards Chelsea. I catch her arm as she steams past me. I don’t want her to say anything she might regret, but her soft flicker of a smile tells me, she’s got this. My hand drops to my side as Angie takes in a calming breath.
“Don’t you dare talk about my husband like you knew him because you didn’t. You didn’t know him at all.”
I can’t believe my eyes when Chelsea laughs in her face.
“He obviously didn’t know you either. Not as well as he thought…”
I’m fucking livid and mortified in equal measures, by the crap coming out of Chelsea’s mouth. I’ve got to stop my soon-to-be ex-wife before she causes more damage. I step between the girls, giving Chelsea dagger eyes. “How fucking dare you talk to Angie like that.”
“That’s right. Defend your girlfriend. I don’t hear you denying it, though,” Chelsea snarls, but Angie fights her way in front of me.