CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
TOMMY
One minute the guys and I are talking about a riff we want to try out, the next, we’re in Ash’s music room experimenting with it. We've been in here for a couple of hours, and when Ash looks up from his guitar, Max and I follow his line of sight to see what’s caught his attention.
Calla is leaning against the door frame, smiling as she listens to us mess around.
“Are you guys okay to finish now? The food is ready when you are.”
“I’m starving,” Max says.
“I’m pleased to hear that because I’ve over-catered as usual.” Calla smiles.
“Let’s go, guys.” Ash kisses his wife full on the lips as they lead the way, arm in arm.
We’re having a family day at Ash and Calla’s and everyone descended on them at the same time. Everyone but Angie, that is, and I’m impatient to see her.
With Connie beside me and Oz running ahead, we met Bernie and Mrs C on the driveway and Dani as we stepped inside the hall.
Again, I had to give Max a warning stare after he winked at Connie.
Although a blush formed on her cheeks, she walked straight past him as if he were invisible.
A girl like Connie is too good for Max. I’m glad she’s not interested.
Ash and Calla welcomed us into their home and Ozzie’s little hand left mine as soon as he saw Zoe and the twins. It has me wondering if Oz is happier without his mum in his life. He hasn’t asked me about her in a while, even though I try to keep her in his thoughts.
Every day, I wait for a call that never comes, yet a week ago, Chelsea gave me dagger eyes across a meeting room when I suggested I have full custody.
The truth is, she's too selfish to bring up Ozzie. I even tried to get in touch after our meeting at the solicitors, but she didn’t reply.
If Chelsea doesn’t watch it, not only will she have to win our kid back legally, but also emotionally.
I’m joking around with Max, while general chatter fills the room, and we take our places around the huge dining room table.
The kids are down one end, and I take a second to check in with Ozzie. “Hey, little dude. Are you having a good day?” I crouch down by his seat, tickling his stomach.
He giggles. “Look, Daddy. I spilled—” He points to the paint on his trainers, and I glance at Connie, who bites the inside of her cheek.
“I’m sorry. We were hand painting, and he was wearing an apron, but he put a little too much on the brush.”
Josh appears from nowhere and reaches for Connie’s hand. “Connie? Can you talk to my mummy?”
Josh points to Angie, who waves at Connie and walks over. My heart is hammering against my chest as the sound of her voice nears. Finally, she’s here.
“Connie, I’m so sorry. Could you take Josh earlier tomorrow? There are a few loose ends I should tie up at work.”
“No problem at all,” she replies. Meanwhile, I stand up from my crouched position and Connie glances between us.
Angie takes in a sharp breath. “Tom. Hi. I didn’t mean to interrupt.”
“Hey.” I raise my chin towards her as Connie takes both boys by the hand.
“Come on, you two. Let’s find a couple of plates and get started on the food.”
“Thanks. You’re a star,” Angie says to Connie, although her eyes never leave mine.
My hand brushes her hip briefly. I’m conscious that this is the first time many of our friends have seen us together. My heart thuds a wild beat and I can’t stop grinning. We grab whatever time we can, but this last time apart seems longer than normal.
My tone is hushed when I ask her, “How’s it going?”
Her voice is equally as quiet and she lowers her eyes briefly. “Okay, I suppose.” Then her gaze comes back to me. “I miss you.”
Maybe it’s because I’ve missed her too that I’m sure she looks more fucking beautiful than ever today. I want to take her in my arms so badly, but this isn’t the time. Not yet.
“Come on, everyone. Let’s sit down and eat,” Calla calls across the room, oven gloves on and carrying an enormous lasagne dish.
Without thinking, I pull out a chair, offering Angie a seat. She smiles up at me when she sits and even more when I take my place next to her.
All eyes are on us. I can sense them, but eventually, everyone around the table dives into pasta, salads, and garlic bread. The room comes alive with chat, but me and Angie stay pretty quiet, taking in the surrounding noise but exchanging heated glances.
I lean in next to her. “It would be good to talk somewhere private after dinner.”
Under the table, her hand falls to my knee. The smell of spring flowers fills the space around us and she leans in. “I’d like that, Tom.”
I’ve never eaten so fucking fast in all my life.
ANGIE
Dinner winds down around six and, despite the noise, Calla suggests the kids stay for a sleepover and the nannies take a well-deserved night off. She must be out of her mind, but Josh is so excited to stay over with his friends, I can’t say no.
Ash, Bernie, and Max decide to play pool in the games room.
“Are you coming, man?” Ash asks Tommy.
“I’ll catch you up later,” he replies, glancing my way.
Calla catches my attention, gathering the kids together like a herd of sheep.
“Okay, you lot. Up the stairs, PJs on, and for a special treat, we’re watching Toy Story 2.
” Then she smiles my way and winks. We talked a lot today.
She knows I have so much to say to Tommy.
I couldn’t do this without her support, which she says is stupid, but our lives are bound together in every way.
Her feelings are just as important to me as the caring and beautiful man currently instructing his security guy to take his nanny home safely.
Out of the five children here, it’s Josh’s slight squeal of joy that steals my attention briefly when Calla tells them popcorn is on the way.
He probably won’t last more than five minutes before he falls asleep, but my little boy deserves this time and he just can’t wait to get started.
He gives me a half-hearted hug before rushing off to join his friends and, when he climbs the stairs, he has the happiest smile on his face. It’s priceless.
The room is quiet as we’re the only two people here, and Tommy seems nervous when he asks, “You ready?”
I collect my hoodie, which is hung up by the door, and tie it around my waist. “Yeah. I’m all set.”
There’s a cool breeze and no sound other than waves crashing against the shore.
Tommy takes my hand while we stroll in silence for a while, both lost in our own thoughts.
I’m unsure if I should start this conversation or leave it to him.
Maybe instead of waiting, I should pluck up the courage to express what my heart truly wants instead of dilly-dallying about.
Filling my lungs with sea air, I’m now ready to offload all the reasons I can’t be apart from him for more than a day. Being without him is worse than the possible press intrusion. At least we can lean on each other when we’re together.
As I open my mouth to speak, Tommy says, “Shall we go inside the cave? We can talk better there.”
The focus on my big speech falls away. “Yeah. Why not?” I was so wrapped up in my thoughts, I hadn’t realised how long we’d been walking.
We step inside and Tommy sits on the rock. I untie my hoodie from around my waist and slip it over my head, using the time to take deep breaths. This is stupid. Why am I so nervous?
“Hey, come here.” Tommy offers his hand to me, which I take to steady myself as I sit, but he doesn’t let go. “You’re quiet tonight.”
I tap my head. “I’ve got a lot going on up here.” So much so that I’m fairly sure I’m about to word vomit all over him.
“Yeah, me too,” he agrees, nodding. “We’ve been so busy trying to please everyone around us that we’re not pleasing ourselves. Do you know what I mean?” He edges closer, never letting go of my hand while folding his other arm around me. I huddle in.
“Yes. I do,” I pensively reply.
“What is it, babe?”
I take my time before I answer as goosebumps roll across my skin, and my body shivers with the sensation.
Even now, just by calling me babe, the name he calls every woman he knows, I turn to jelly.
He uses a different tone with me. A more measured, soft, and slightly sexy rasp that I’ve only ever heard when we’re on our own.
“In the beginning, when we first realised there was something between us, I was using my love for Scott and his business to hold me back, and that’s not fair.
If he could communicate and tell me what to do, he’d say, ‘stop crying and start living’.
He was never one to sit back and let life pass him by without jumping in, and I believe if he could see the state I got myself into, he’d be bloody horrified.
” A tear rolls down my cheek, even though I’ve tried not to cry.
Tommy swipes it away. “It’s okay. Let it all out.” Then he pulls me closer and I rest my head on his shoulder.
Soaking in his body’s warmth, I nuzzle under his jaw and savour his fresh, woody scent. Finally, I have the strength to move this relationship on, and I want him to know I trust him in every aspect of my life.
“I’ve seen how you were with Chelsea. Despite what that soulless bitch did to you, you’ve been nothing but faithful.
God knows temptation must have been banging down your dressing room door every night, begging you to lose yourself in someone else for a time and ignore what was going on in your personal life, but you didn’t.
You held strong and true for your little boy.
It's obvious how much you love Ozzie, and your actions speak volumes to me.”