CHAPTER TEN
ANGIE
Tears spill down the side of my face while I stare at the ceiling. My focus blurs in and out as tears continue to pool and overflow. It’s been a long, sleepless night and my train of thought is going at full speed.
My work schedule was rotating in my head when I initially woke up, but then my mind turned to the date I’d been on with Fraser. He took me to dinner, and we didn’t stop talking. Or rather, he didn’t, but that was a good thing. He made my first date in God knows how many years, easy.
There was just one problem. That buzz of excitement when you meet someone new who has the potential to be more than a friend, was missing. This led me to remember how it felt with Scott.
I was eleven and just starting secondary school when I met him. We were friends, then we weren’t for a while, but in our twenties, our paths crossed again out of the blue.
The clincher was ending up in his tent at the Braebeach festival. We got into a heated argument that led to heated sex. Despite our differences, there was an undeniable fire between us that wouldn’t die down no matter how much I fought it, and believe me, I tried to fight it many times.
Scott didn’t. He kept pursuing me until I gave in.
It didn’t take me long to realise he was the one, and that’s how it should be, shouldn’t it?
The urgency to be with someone; the raging burn inside you can’t ignore.
You only get that once in a lifetime, and Scott was the man to light my fire.
It’s sad to think I might never get that back again.
I wish he were here; he’s missing so much. Our son grows bigger by the day and is the most incredible boy with so much love to give.
It hasn’t always been easy doing this on my own, and I’m not talking about the practical side of parenthood, because focusing on Josh is the one thing that got me through each day.
What I mean is things like witnessing your child’s first smile, the first time they roll over on their play mat, then later their first day at school and so many other firsts.
You forget yourself and become overexcited and giddy but soon realise there’s no one around to share those moments with.
Yesterday, I got a phone call from Josh’s teacher to say he’s made it into the school Judo team and is the youngest at just five years old.
I’m so proud. When I got off the phone, I squealed at the top of my voice like an absolute lunatic, but when I stopped, I was looking around an empty room again.
These are my thoughts as I lie in bed, staring up at the ceiling, silently crying to myself. Whoever said grief gets better over time is talking a pile of shit.
My phone dances on the bedside cabinet and interrupts my tears.
The call brings a slight smile to my face when I see Calla’s name lighting up the screen.
She couldn’t have called at a better time.
She’s currently in New York with Ash on the last leg of the band’s tour, although I hope there’s nothing wrong. It’s late there.
“Hey, you.” I smile, quickly wiping away my tears with the back of my hand and adjusting my voice to a higher pitch so she can’t tell I’ve been crying. “You’re calling late, or early. Whichever way you want to look at it.”
“I didn’t wake you, did I? I forgot to check the time.”
“No. I’m already up and reading,” I lie. I can’t tell her I’m wallowing in self-pity.
“Oh. Are you all right?”
“Yes, just not tired.” My arm rests over my eyes so I can block out the light.
“Are you sure? You’re not overdoing it at work again, are you?”
Ah, yes. The other pain in the arse that’s keeping me awake at night. “No. Stop panicking.”
“Sorry.” I hear her smile down the line. She knows she’s fussing. “What about Trunchbull? Have you got rid of her yet?”
“You can’t talk about my nanny like that.” Admittedly, I hired her in a panic, but it’s only for a few months until my workload calms down. Up until recently, I didn’t have any help at all.
“I don’t care. We both know she’s too strict and Josh doesn’t like her.”
“Well, until I find someone else, she’s staying. I’ve got to work, Cal. Anyway, what’s going on with you? You sound a little panicked.” I ask quickly to change the subject.
“Have you heard from Tommy yet?”
I smile to myself. Hardly a week goes by without a call from him. He likes to check I’m okay. I’d love to see him more, but his family commitments and the band keep him out of the country most of the time. At least he’s on the end of the phone anytime I need him.
“No. Why? Should I have heard from him?”
“He’s bound to call you soon, so I’m not saying anything I shouldn’t. At least, I hope I’m not.”
“Has something happened?” I ask.
“Only the biggest shitstorm you could ever imagine.”
I sit up and prop my pillows behind me, knowing I’m in for a long conversation. “Spill it.”
“Where do I start?” She huffs, then blurts out, “Brett is leaving the band.”
Did I mishear what she said? “Wait. Is this a joke?”
“Nope. It’s true.”
My fuzzy head tries to process her news. “Holy shit.”
“Exactly.” I can hear the anguish in her voice.
“I don’t get it. The boys are so close. What the hell happened?”
“No one seems to know. Brett has been acting strangely of late, but it’s sad that he never once indicated how he felt or try to discuss it with the rest of the band.”
“You’re joking. He didn’t talk to the boys about it at all?” I ask, pushing my hair away from my face.
“Nope. They found out when Brett’s solicitor called Dani. The boys have no idea where he is or what this is about, only that there’s a formal statement going out tomorrow morning at ten a.m. New York time.”
“Holy shit,” I say again. “This is unbelievable.”
“I know. The guys are devastated. They’re over at Tommy’s now trying to digest the news before Dani weighs in tomorrow morning. They have a meeting with her first thing.”
“How is Ash taking it?”
“He’s going out of his mind,” her shaky voice replies.
“Are you okay, Cal?” I hate that we’re so far apart and I can’t be there to support her.
“Not really. This is such a mess, Angie. I don’t know how to help him.”
“You’ll come through for him, I know it. You’re always fantastic in a crisis.”
There’s a slight pause before she continues. “Usually, but that’s not the half of it. There’s more.”
“Are we still talking about the band now?”
“Yes… and no. Oh, God. I’ve got myself in a situation,” Calla says with a shaky voice.
“Why? What happened?” I ask with concern.
“Okay, what I’m about to tell you must stay between us—for now, at least.”
“Okay.” I nod even though she can’t see me.
“Tommy and Chelsea are splitting up.”
“What?” My stomach flips. Why didn’t he tell me himself? “How do you know?”
“Ash called me from Tommy’s place. I don’t have all the details, but apparently, Chelsea didn’t go home for a couple of nights and Tommy has had enough.”
I bite my nail for a moment. “I don’t believe it. Tommy wouldn’t risk losing Oz.”
“That’s the first thing I said, but apparently, Oz is staying with him.”
“That would make sense.” It’s times like this that I wish I could be closer to help. “Poor Tommy. He’s really having a hard time.”
“I know, and so much has happened in the last twelve hours. He doesn’t need this on top of everything else.
” There’s a slight pause before she says, “Please don’t mention any of this unless Tommy talks about it first. This news is still so raw and I promised Ash I would wait for Tommy to fill you in. ”
“And he believed you?” I question. Calla and I share everything.
“I know.” Calla goes quiet for a second. “The thing is… there’s one more thing.”
I rub my forehead. “Jesus, Cal. I’m not sure I can take much more.”
She sighs a heavy breath down the line. I sense her apprehension until she finally comes straight out with it. “I’m not sure if it’s a full-blown affair, but Chelsea was cheating on him.”
I sit up abruptly. “What?”
“I saw her going at it with someone. I wish I hadn’t.”
I feel my heartbeat increase. “What do you mean, ‘going at it?’ It’s a stupid question but I’m in shock.
“Exactly that. He had his hand up her skirt, her knickers around her ankles, and they were fucking like rabbits behind a stack of flight cases in a dark corner.
My heart is racing now. “What the hell—When?”
“About a week ago. Tommy was on stage when it happened.”
“It happened at a gig? Oh my God.” I place my hand on my chest and take deep breaths.
“Please don’t be mad.”
“I’m not mad with you, it’s that dirty slapper Chelsea I’m mad with.” I bite my bottom lip with worry. “Are you sure it was Chelsea you saw? It could have been any number of girls that hang around these venues.”
“Absolutely positive. Her face was all too clear.”
“I feel sick.” My stomach drops.
“Not as sick as I felt. They gave me a full-on graphic display. Believe me, I wish I could scrub my eyes and disinfect my brain. All I wanted was a bloody pee, and then I went and lost my way backstage.”
“Jesus. This is bad. Really bad.” I swallow hard.
“And you know what makes this so much worse? The boys were in the middle of a show. Tommy was out there playing his heart out and working his arse off for a woman who does not give a shit about him.”
My blood runs cold and my heart breaks a little bit. “Poor Tommy.”
A second passes before I dare to ask. “Cal? The guy she was with. Was he anyone we know?”
Calla huffs down the line. “Dylan Jennings.”
This could not get any worse. “As in Vocational Rock?”
“The one and only.”
My mouth dries and my stomach clenches. “Are you bloody serious?”
“It was dark, but I’m fairly certain.”
I rub my eyes. “Have you told Ash?”
“No. Not yet. There was never a good time, and you know how he feels about Chelsea. He’ll go ballistic when he finds out.”
I’m trying to process what this means for Tommy and his little boy, but all I feel is anger boiling under the surface of my skin. If this is true, I will kill that woman. “And Tommy has no idea?”