CHAPTER FIFTEEN
ANGIE
While putting my lipstick on, I stare at my reflection in the mirror.
“What the hell are you doing, girl?” I ask myself out loud.
This will be my fourth date with Fraser, yet I know I’m not into him at all.
Is it fair to lead him on, or should I shut this thing down?
Calla seems to think it’s okay and is actively encouraging me to go out with him. She called this morning.
“You don’t have to label it, just treat it as a night out, nothing more,” she said while trying to coax me from the dark mood I was in.
“I understand this is the first guy you’ve dated since Scott, but there are no hard or fast rules.
Remember, you don’t have to be anything more than friends if you don’t want to. Just enjoy the company.”
What Calla doesn’t seem to realise is that it’s not that simple.
He tried to kiss me after a night out, but I told him I could hear Josh crying and ran upstairs to get some space.
I can barely hold hands with him, so I’m hardly going to be up for anything else.
So why is it I feel differently when it comes to Tommy?
I can’t work out if it’s because we’re friends or if old feelings from the past have resurfaced.
I’m so confused, and there’s no rhyme or reason for why this is happening now.
I’m leaving Josh with Connie tonight. It’s great because Josh seems to like her, but we’re still getting to know Connie. What if Josh gets ill or hurts himself? Maybe I shouldn’t go out.
But then, Tommy wouldn’t leave Ozzie with just anyone and he’s an excellent judge of character. Am I really that worried about leaving Josh with a super-qualified nanny? Or am I just looking for a way out of my date with Fraser?
My stomach turns as the doorbell rings. Too late now, I’ve got to get on with it.
“Hello there.” Fraser’s deep tone bounces against the walls of the hallway.
“Angie, your friend is here,” Connie calls up the stairs.
My friend? Yes, I can cope with him being a friend, but can he? “I’ll be down in just a sec,” I call back. “But could you come up here for a moment? I need a hand with something.”
“Please take a seat. Angie will be down soon,” I hear Connie say. She’s so polite.
Her light footsteps travel up the stairs.
“Quick, in here,” I whisper out of my bedroom door, signalling with my hand. “What do you think of my outfit?”
Connie’s eyes are as wide as saucers as she takes in my short navy blue fitted shift dress, which finishes just above the knee, with matching heels. I’d like to take credit for this outfit, but once again, Calla came to the rescue. I pinched it from her wardrobe.
“Wow, Angie. You look incredible.” She beams.
“Not too much?”
“Not at all. Spot on. He must be taking you somewhere fancy. He’s wearing a suit.”
“Well, he told me we’re going somewhere special for dinner.”
“How romantic.” She sighs.
God, no. Romance is the last thing I need, at least, not from Fraser. Christ, my throat feels dry. What is wrong with me?
“I should go, but I’ll just check on Josh first.” I force a smile, but I’m not sure how convincing it is.
As quietly as I can, I peek through the door at my beautiful boy. He’s fast asleep already. I’m blessed when it comes to Josh and routine. My son does everything he’s meant to, and that includes going to bed without any protests.
I take a few minutes to watch him sleep and push his tiny blonde curls back from his face. When he was born, I was overjoyed to have a baby boy, thinking he’d look exactly like his daddy. Sadly, he’s the image of me, but I live in hope this will change as he gets older.
“Goodnight, my sweet boy,” I say, running the side of my finger across his soft cheek, then I creep away. As I close the door behind me, Connie steps forward. She’s been waiting at the top of the stairs, just outside his room.
“All okay?” she asks.
I nod. “He’s out for the count. It’s rare for him to wake once he’s gone, so you should be in for a quiet night.”
“Don’t worry, we’re all set. Oz had me making sandcastles all day and the sea air has wiped me out. I’m looking forward to reading a few pages of my book.”
“Right then,” I say nervously. “I suppose I ought to get down there.” There’s only so much stalling I can do.
Connie smiles and follows me down. When I get to the bottom step, Fraser stands and straightens his jacket as we enter the room.
“Whoa, don’t you look beautiful?”
“Thank you.” I blush as he checks me out from top to bottom and, I admit, I’m doing the same, but perhaps not in the same way.
His short dark hair is parted to one side with a slight wave, a curl hanging loosely by his forehead.
He’s handsome and has just the right amount of stubble covering his jaw, and I like his dark, full moustache.
He’s tall, slim and polite too. Usually, I’d find these qualities attractive, but there’s something missing, and I know exactly what it is. I don’t fancy him.
As Calla said, I’ve just got to see him as a friend. I remind myself of her advice as I retrieve my house keys from the side table and place them in my small clutch bag. “Ready?” I ask, taking another deep breath.
His hand sweeps out for me to go first. “I am, gorgeous. After you.”
TOMMY
My back is to the wall, my face side-on while my hand slowly lifts the blind. I’m so focused on what is going on outside the bedroom window, I don’t hear Max sneak up behind me. “Something's got your attention.”
I jump out of my skin. “What the fuck? Did you have to creep up on me like that?”
“I didn’t want to disturb your concentration.” He chuckles. “Is that Angie out there?”
“Yeah,” I reply, a little irritated.
“Who’s the guy? A date?”
I scowl his way briefly. “Could be.”
“Do you know him?” Max asks.
“No,” I growl as my primary focus lands on the position of his hands while he guides her into his old Audi A4.
“Angie seems to like him.”
I spin my head around to Max’s line of sight. “And how the fuck do you know that?”
“Body language.”
I huff out a sarcastic laugh. He knows nothing, but since he took my attention away from the window, they’ve driven off.
“Why are you so interested in what Angie is up to?” He smirks.
“Because she’s trying the dating game, and I want to make sure that whoever goes out with her is good enough. Angie is still fragile, and we’ve got to watch out for her.”
“If you say so.” Max chuckles again.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Nothing.” He shrugs. “So, what are your plans tonight?”
“I’m staying here. Connie’s next door, babysitting, so I’m in for the night with Oz. You?”
“You let Connie go to Angie’s for the night? Jesus, dude. If this date goes well, it’s your fault.”
I run my fingers through my hair. “How did you work that out?”
“If you didn’t lend her your nanny, she couldn’t go on a date.”
He’s got a point, but I promised Angie I’d help her in any way I could. “I wouldn’t do that to her. She can borrow Connie whenever she wants.”
“Then you’re an idiot.” Max shakes his head. “You obviously like her.”
“Of course I do. She’s my friend.”
“Right.”
I turn to find a stupid grin on his face.
“Aren’t you supposed to be at the opening of that new club, tonight.”
“I was just thinking I might go for a walk on the beach instead. I need to clear my lungs.”
I huff out a laugh. This is not Max’s style. “You’re what? Since when did you miss free booze and wall-to-wall women?”
“Since now. I need time out.”
If this were any other time, I’d call bullshit, but a subtle cry from down the hallway sparks my attention. “Daddy… daddy.” I get up from my post by the window. “I’d better see what’s up with my boy.”
“Sure. I’ll see you later.”
“Okay, man.” Then I stop, reminding myself that I should question Max on the conversation he had with Angie regarding my marriage. “Hey Max, while I think about it, can we talk later? I want to check something with you.”
“Sure,” Max says, with his hands in his jeans pockets and a shrug. “Maybe we can grab a beer?”
“Sounds good.” Max goes one way and I the other. It’s probably a misunderstanding anyway. My main concern tonight is Angie. I won’t sleep until I know she’s home safe and sound.
I wake with a start and pain in my back.
What the hell happened to me last night?
Then I remember as I face my son, who’s sitting up and giggling.
I must have fallen asleep by his bed. Jesus, I feel old.
What happened to the rock and roll life I had?
Waking up on the floor of a house that wasn’t yours usually meant you’d had a crazy night.
But when I look at my boy, I wouldn’t swap this moment for any other.
“Daddy, you’re awake.”
I shake my head until my eyes open fully. “Yes, buddy.” I glance at the clock, noting it’s just gone eight a.m. Using the side of his bed to lean on, I hoist myself up to standing, then lift my boy into my arms. “Wow, you’re getting heavy, buddy.”
“I know.” He grins. “I’m hungry, Daddy.”
“You are? Well, we’d better fill this tummy up quickly.” I squeeze him in the middle of his little body, and he squeals into a giggle.
We make our way downstairs, although my first thought isn’t for food.
I’m mad at myself for falling asleep instead of keeping an eye out for Angie, and now I don’t know if she arrived home okay or if she came home at all.
Would it bother me if she hadn’t made it back? I don’t want to think about it.
When we reach the kitchen, Max is sitting at the breakfast table with his head in his hands.
“What’s up with you?” I ask, slapping the side of his head as I pass. “Hey, Ozzie, don’t do that to Uncle Max. It’s not nice,” I say, blaming it on my kid. He thinks I’m funny and giggles against my shoulder.
“Even your boy isn’t that strong,” Max groans.
“Good morning, Tommy. I wondered where Oz was. I went to wake him up.” Connie’s bright and breezy energy enters the kitchen but drops when her eyes land on Max. I hope he didn’t wake her by coming in too late last night.