CHAPTER ONE
TOMMY
FIVE YEARS LATER
I love our fans, but fuck, they’re noisy. My name is called from ten different directions, and I give them a brief wave, but this isn’t my day. I don’t want to take anything away from the bride and groom. I have a job to do.
She blushes. “Thanks, Tommy.”
“Mummy.” Her daughter, Zoe tugs on the bottom of her mum’s dress, and Calla gently places a hand on her head.
“Are you nervous, chicken?”
Zoe pulls a face. “No, Mummy. I need a wee,” Zoe shouts. This kid cracks me up.
My smile soon drops and all the air leaves my lungs when my focus is snatched away in another direction. The girl who was mine for a little while stands by the bride’s side. Fuck me. She looks incredible.
“Come on, Miss Zoe.” Angie takes Zoe’s tiny hand and my attention with it. “We can pop to the loo before Mummy and Daddy get married.” As Angie walks past and into the entrance, her eyes glance my way. “Hi, Tommy.”
“Hey,” I croak.
Fuck. I’ve got to get it together. Angie is a married woman now, for Christ’s sake.
As if on cue, Scott steps outside, his focus directly on his wife. “Hey, gorgeous.” He kisses Angie on the lips as she glides past him, taking Zoe inside. “You look incredible,” he says while looking her up and down.
Jesus, today is going to be tougher than I thought.
ANGIE
The wildflowers in our bouquets fill the air with the aroma of summer as Calla and her grandfather enter the ceremony suite.
Friends smile and gasp when they first set eyes on the bride, and it’s no wonder.
Her show-stopping dress has a cream satin bodice, crossed over at the chest to form a sweetheart neckline.
Over the top is a fitted layer of cream organza fabric which loosely covers her arms with a puffed sleeve.
I also notice the tiny silver clam bracelet glistening on her wrist, which Ash gave her when they were dating.
I'm certain to this day she has never taken it off.
Calla captivates the room as she makes her way down the aisle and sways in time to the delicate sounds of a piano playing The One by Kodaline. I have to hand it to my best friend; she is breathtaking and so bloody cool.
Zoe’s little hand is in mine as we follow her. Except for her princess skirt, Zoe’s bridesmaid dress is almost a mini version of my simple cream, silk, floor-length number, but I love how mine makes allowances for my expanding bump.
At the end of the aisle, waiting patiently, is lead singer of Koolum Law and the rock god himself, Ashton Chambers.
He’s been in love with Calla since they were sixteen years old, but when he turns to see his bride, you would think he was seeing her with fresh eyes.
His audible “Wow” melts every heart in the room.
Calla blushes and her eyes fill with tears.
She is bound to be emotional, and not just because she is pregnant with twins.
Calla is such a romantic, although she’s not alone.
When I spot my husband, those old familiar butterflies take flight in my stomach.
Not only is he Calla’s brother, Scott is also Ash’s best man, and I’m so proud to be part of their family.
Just think, if I hadn’t had angry sex with that gorgeous man during Braebeach Festival five years ago, maybe I wouldn’t be standing here now.
The remaining members of Koolum Law are ushers today.
Max and Brett look super sexy in their fitted three-piece suits with open-necked shirts, which are radically different from their usual jeans and t-shirts.
They’re not the only ones who have switched their wardrobes up a gear.
Just behind them is the guy I once drooled over daily.
Wow, what a summer fling Tommy Graham was.
That hot-as-hell drummer left me breathless long before the rest of the world’s female population caught up.
Still, it took me a long time to forgive him after he hurt me, and by all accounts, I had a lucky escape.
Apparently, he can’t keep it in his pants.
There’s no point in dwelling, especially as I married the love of my life. Scott and the baby we’ve longed for are my only focus now.
My attention falls back to the beaming bride and groom, and Ash gently takes Calla’s hand in his.
The beautiful couple captivates every person in this room except me. Scott is standing tall and proud next to them, and I can’t stop staring at the man I will love for eternity. How the hell did I get so lucky? He’s the most incredible husband, and I’m certain he’ll make an amazing dad.
I catch the wink Scott gives Calla as he reaches into his pocket to produce two rings. He carefully places them in the centre of the ring cushion held by the registrar before taking a step back. His work as best man is done for now.
As the registrar announces they are man and wife, Ash sweeps Calla into his arms and delicately takes her lips with his.
The congregation falls silent, with only the occasional sniff to be heard, but that moment fades as they break into applause and whoops.
There’s a lump in my throat which is hard to swallow, and my eyes won’t stop leaking.
Either these new hormones are playing with my emotions, or I’m turning into a complete sap.
A guy in the corner of the room strikes up a gentle rendition of Ed Sheeran’s Thinking Out Loud on the acoustic guitar as Scott shakes Ash’s hand in congratulations.
Hugs and kisses follow all around, and my hormones almost explode when little Zoe jumps into her daddy's arms and Calla joins them in a hug.
Everyone stands and applauds the newlyweds while they walk back down the aisle, but as I follow with my hand in the crook of Scott’s arm, I note Tommy and his latest girlfriend.
There’s no denying she’s beautiful; blonde, and altogether the perfect package until I notice she’s making eyes at Brett and licking her lips.
Obviously, Tommy missed the sideshow, which gives me a dilemma.
Should I say something or let him work it out for himself?
Perhaps I’ll move on and keep out of it.
After all, I’m sure he’ll be shot of her by next week.
TOMMY
“Tommy, love. So good to see you.” Ash’s mum, Liz, approaches with her familiar smile, and Angie is right by her side.
“Mrs C.” I stand from my bar stool, giving her a warm hug before doing the same with Angie, although ours is a little awkward. We’re still not completely good with each other yet, and weirdly, I’m nervous around her. Was she always this beautiful?
It was five years ago that I said goodbye to her.
Why the hell did I fuck things up so badly and why is this only bothering me now?
Probably because I don’t see her around as much as I used to.
I moved to the States four years ago, which helps.
Jesus, Graham. Get it together. I clear my throat.
“Scott not around?” I ask, going for a casual tone.
“He was helping Ash with something, so I’ve been hanging with Liz for a while.” She turns her attention to Mrs C, which is probably where mine should be. “Let’s find you a chair, Liz.”
“Jesus, Mrs C. I’m not thinking.” I nod towards my seat. “Do you want to take a load off for a sec?”
“What about your young lady? Won’t she need it?”
“Nah, she's busy.” I glance around the room, but I don’t have a clue where Chelsea is.
Mrs C smiles. “In that case, don’t mind if I do.”
I drag another couple of stools over for me and Angie. “Here you go, babe.”
“Thanks. These shoes are bloody killing me.” Angie crosses her legs and slips one cream stiletto off.
She glances up before massaging her toes briefly.
The blue still sparkles in her eyes, and her perfect pink lips still shine in the light, although her ash blonde hair is longer now.
There was a time when it was short and dyed pink, but I like her natural hair better.
Angie’s eyes narrow towards me and I realise I’m studying her. Fuck. This is not healthy. I need something to break the spell, so I lean across the bar. “Let me get you both a drink. What do you fancy? Champagne? Cocktail?”
“Soda water, please, Tommy.”
Okay. That’s not like Mrs C. “Straight soda water. Nothing else?”
She thinks for a second. “Maybe with a splash of gin, then.”
I grin. “I’ll see what I can do.” Then my attention is back on Angie. “What’s your poison, babe?”
“Cranberry juice for me, please.”
“Really? I’ve never known you to turn down a drink before.”
“I’ve still got duties to perform, and the last thing Cal needs is a staggering bridesmaid. I’m no good when I’ve had a few.” She blushes.
“If you say so.” I smirk.
As soon as our drinks arrive, I knock my whiskey back with one gulp, then order another.
“Are you okay?” Angie nods towards my empty glass.
“Yeah, I’m good.” I smile, and her wet, cranberry lips smile back. It’s the sweetest sight, and I spend too many seconds watching them roll together until Angie points to the other side of the room, and I follow her line of sight.
“Scott is calling me over. I won’t be long. Save my seat, would you, Liz?”
“Of course, love.” Mrs C smiles.
A moment of silence follows while I watch Angie walk away, then Mrs C asks a question right out of the blue. “Tell me, Tommy? Are you happy?”
I mull over my reply for a beat, then blow out a long, drawn-out breath. “Yeah, I think so.”
“And things are going well with your girlfriend?”
Chelsea is high maintenance, although she’s lasted longer than most women I’ve dated. She hasn’t left my New York apartment since the day we met on a flight from London a few months ago. She was one hell of an attentive air hostess.
“Yeah, not bad.”
“Hmm.” Mrs C gives me the side eye. “It’s none of my business, Tommy, but I’d be careful if I were you.”
“Why? Chelsea is harmless and I like having her around.”
“It’s just something Angie mentioned.”
“Like what?”