CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX #2
“Don’t get all snappy with me, Tommy. You’re ruining my happiness.”
How did I ever live with this woman? “Whatever. What’s the news, Chelsea?” I ask, slumping back in my chair.
She’s beaming from ear to ear. “Well.” She sits up straight. “I’d rather speak to Oz myself, but he’s going to be a big brother.” She claps her hands in excitement.
My blood runs cold. “What the fuck?” She’s beaming, and I’m sitting here in shock. “You're pregnant. Are you out of your mind?” I’m so fucking angry.
Her face drops. “You’re not happy for me?”
“Weirdly, babe, no. I’m not happy at all.” I shake my head. “Unbelievable.”
“I don’t understand, Tommy. What's your problem? We’re no longer together. Unless you’re jealous, of course.” Her hand reaches over the table and she places it over mine. “Oh my God, is that it?”
I almost laugh when I slip my hand out of her grasp. “I can promise you jealousy is the last thing I’m feeling. Angry would be more accurate. For one, you can’t trust Dylan. Why the fuck are you having a baby with this guy?”
Her eyes are so wide. “Why are you so angry?”
“Because this has got to be the most irresponsible thing you’ve ever done.
How the fuck can you bring another kid into the world when you can’t look after the one you’ve got?
Can’t you see what a disaster this is? Sometimes I wonder what the hell is going through your mind.
” My fingers run through my hair in frustration.
“There’s no need to be rude,” she snarls back at me.
Standing up from my chair, I pace the room. “There’s every fucking need. Actually, I feel a little sorry for Dylan being tied up with you.”
“How dare you?” she says while watching me walk up and down.
“It’s true. Before you met me, you went from one guy to another.” My hands are on my hips now, but I can’t look her in the face.
“You weren’t exactly a saint,” she spits.
I stop in my tracks, put my hands on the table, and lean in next to her. “Hey, I’ve never been unfaithful to you.”
She laughs in my face. “Don’t throw that crap at me. You’ve always been in love with Angie.”
I push myself up from the table and roll my eyes. “Jesus, here we go again.”
“Well. Are you denying it?”
I can’t do this with her again.
“Perhaps you should both calm down,” Ray interrupts.
“We’re okay, thanks, Ray,” I say with my hand up in front of me, and he takes a step back. I puff out a sigh and turn back to my wife. “Angie was never in the picture while we were married, but she is now.”
Her eyes squint towards me. “I knew it.”
“No, you didn’t, just like you don’t know this. If it wasn’t for Ozzie, there would never have been a marriage between us.”
“Ain’t that the truth.”
“What the fuck does that mean?”
“Nothing.” Her cheeks blush pink.
I stand up, unable to keep my cool. “No, come on. Spill it.” She remains silent as an icy shiver runs down my spine and realisation dawns. “Jesus fucking Christ. Did you trap me?”
Now out of her seat, she just reaches my jaw in height and is far too close before spitting out her answer. “Don’t be ridiculous. You’ve lost your mind.”
“Don’t you dare try to turn this around. Tell me, Chelsea, did you get pregnant on purpose? Did you stop taking your pill or tamper with a condom? Which is it?”
“I could never do such a thing.”
“Oh, yeah, you could. Tell me, did you do the same to that poor prick you’re seeing? Was the honeymoon over for you and Dylan, so you thought you’d add yourself some security in there?”
We’re now toe-to-toe. I can tell by the grit of her teeth she’s pissed. “You bastard.”
I huff out a sarcastic laugh. “It all makes sense now. We were going sour, and you panicked.” Her face blushes brighter like she’s about to explode, but I carry on pushing.
“Come on, Chelsea. Admit you meant to get pregnant. Tell me how you couldn’t stand the thought of me being happy somewhere else, with someone else. Isn’t that a fact?”
“I had to do something,” she screams. “I couldn’t let you go without a fight. It was the only way.”
My body numbs, and the fog in my brain clears. After all this time, the truth is out. The thought was always there in the back of my mind, but I couldn’t believe it. Surely, nobody could stoop so low.
“Tommy?” her faint voice asks, but my head is clogged with information overload. Everything is adding up. It’s going to take a while to process how fucking stupid I was back then, but at least now I have the answer.
“My God, Tom. I’m so sorry.” Angie says as we cuddle on the sofa. “Is there anything I can do?”
“No, babe. I’ll get over it.” My fingers run through her hair.
“It’s not all bad. You have Ozzie out of all of this. He was worth it,” she says, nuzzling into my chest.
“Oh, yeah, so worth it. But in hindsight, marrying her was a mistake. Chelsea doesn’t care enough about Oz to fight for him, and it breaks me inside to admit that. I wish my boy had the upbringing I had. I never want him to feel unwanted.”
“He never will, Tommy, because you’re his dad.” She gazes up at me. “Thank God he has you.”
“And I thank fuck for you, Angie.”
My fingertips brush over her soft lips before I capture them.
She’s staying with me this weekend, but our boys are sleeping over at my mum and dad’s tonight.
My dad offered to camp with them in the garden, so they were both a little excited when we dropped them off, but it’s just what Ozzie needs.
The other day, he asked me when he would see his mum again.
It’s a question I can’t answer for now, so I hope spending time with his grandparents will take his mind off it.
“I’m here for you, Tommy, and for Oz, if ever he needs me.”
“Thanks, babe. That means a lot.” She’s got no idea how much.
“So, how did you leave it with Chelsea?”
“I hate saying it, but she was about to walk away from Oz. Same old fucking story.” I shake my head. “If I hadn't stopped her, she would've left without saying goodbye to him, and I wasn’t having it. I asked Ray to take her upstairs, then I told her to hug her son.”
“You did the right thing.”
“Yeah, maybe this time, but it won’t be easy dealing with her, especially with another kid on the way. She makes me so angry, but I can’t fuck this up for Oz. I’ve just got to get on with it.”
Her arms circle my waist. “It must be frustrating.”
“That’s one way of putting it.”
Just having her close is like a prop, holding me up, keeping me together. How I ever survived without her is a mystery, which is why I’ll make sure I don’t have to survive without her ever again.
“Listen, babe, there’s something else I want to talk to you about.”
“What is it?” She shifts herself further up my body.
We’re eye to eye and I run my fingers up and down her arm.
“There’s the possibility of another tour coming up.
” I sigh out loud and run my fingers through my hair.
“If I’m honest, I’ve been skirting around this subject for a while.
I’ve dreaded bringing it up, seeing as things are going great for us. ”
She smiles, but it’s sad. “It’s okay. You’re a musician. That’s what you do and surely you’re looking forward to playing live again?”
“More than I can explain. The fans need to see that nothing has changed just because Brett’s gone. We’re still here and we still care about them and our music.”
“I’m sure they already know.” She half smiles.
I take her hand. “Maybe, but maybe not. We don’t take this life for granted.”
“Hey,” she says, running her finger over my jaw. “That’s obvious to anyone who knows you well enough.”
Brushing my thumb over her soft skin, I say, “Whatever happens with the tour, I’ll talk it through with you first. We don’t have firm dates yet, but it’s important that you’re okay with it.”
“Tommy, being in Koolum Law means everything to you. I see how much you love your fans and the music. It’s obvious every time you play for a live audience. I wouldn’t stand in the way of that.”
Angie is saying everything I want to hear, but I sense she’s anxious. I was right to be worried.
“Hey.” I pull her closer and she looks at me as if I’m the most important person in the world. “You’re amazing. Do you know that?”
“Not really. Just head over heels in love with a super-hot rock star.”
My body freezes. “What did you say?”
“Tommy, come on. You know how I feel.”
Actually, I didn’t. “It’s just, that’s the first time you’ve said it.”
Her face drops. “No. It can’t be.”
I press my hand to her face. “Angie, babe, I promise you’ve never told me before.”
She purses her lips. “Oh.”
“Hey,” I say, lifting her chin. “I love you too, but you already know that.” She seems almost disappointed. “What’s up? You don’t look happy.”
“I’m not. I can’t believe it just fell out of my mouth like it meant nothing.”
“It meant everything, and the fact that you didn’t force it means a whole lot more.”
“Really?” Slowly, her face lights up.
“Yeah, really.”
Her plump pink lips beckon me forward. They taste like cherry and glisten with our kiss. Together with her flowery scent, she drives me wild. I can’t get enough of her. I’m still wrapping my head around the fact she’s mine.
Stretched across the sofa, both with half a bottle of wine inside us, we kiss like a couple of teens and talk about our hopes and fears.
The more I drink, the more animated I get, but sometimes my mouth runs away without checking with my brain first. I want her to be comfortable about the tour and what I do for a living.
“It’s difficult to explain how making music with the guys is right up there for me. It’s like I have to freeze frame every minute of this rock and roll life because it isn’t gonna last forever.”
She’s silent for a beat, and I wonder if I’ve said something that reminds her of Scott, or am I talking about the band too much? Shit. “Hey, what are you thinking about?” I ask her.
Angie sits forward, while I run my palms across her back. “It’s stupid, really. I’m already worrying about the time you’ll spend away.”
So, there is something bugging her. “What are you worried about?”
“That you’ll meet someone else. Someone young, beautiful, and sexy, not a thirty-something frumpy mum of one. I am the complete opposite end of the scale to the beautiful people you meet in your glamorous world. I thought I’d be okay with it, but now it’s happening, I’m not so sure.”
Her body slumps a little against me. It’s easy to see she’s struggling with this, but I need her to have faith in what we’ve got together.
“Hey. Look at me.” Her incredible blue eyes glisten and shine as they meet mine. “Do you realise I worry about that stuff too? Just the idea of you meeting someone else fucking kills me inside.”
“Really?” She shifts herself upright.
“Fuck yeah.” I cup her jaw, brushing my thumb over her cheek.
“Listen, nothing bad will happen, I guarantee it. You’re the sexiest woman on the planet.
There’s not an ounce of frump about you, so don’t even go there.
You don’t see how beautiful you are. I mean, yeah, you’re a little crazy.
” She giggles, and it’s good to hear. “But your inner beauty is as brilliant as the beauty on the outside.”
She heaves in a breath, her lips parting slightly.
“Angie, I’ve spent so long loving you, no one else could ever match how you make me feel. I wouldn’t risk losing you for anyone or anything.”
Her fingers play with the buttons on my half-open shirt before she straddles my lap and flashes the contents of her white shorts. My finger is so tempted to explore inside, and just thinking about it causes my cock to stir.
“Did you know you’re stuck with me now?” I say, turning my attention to her eyes as they burn towards me. Then Angie leans forward, her beautiful breasts lying on my chest, and her mouth a millimetre away from mine.
She whispers, “I hope so.”
“I know exactly what I want, and all I want is you.” She’s sat over my cock, so I buck my hips up a little.
A beautiful smile creeps across her lips. “I feel the same.”
“Then when are you moving in?”
She giggles again, resting her forehead against my chest. “We said we’d take our time.”
“I don’t remember that. Why don’t you move in tonight? Now, in fact,” I ask, cupping her arse.
She sits up, a little startled, but with a sexy smile on her face. “Are you drunk?”
“I’m definitely not drunk, but it makes sense to do it now. Rent your house out and move in here with me, or we could find somewhere new. Whatever you want.” She relaxes on top of me while I massage her thighs. “We’re not kids anymore, Angie. We both know what we want.”
Her eyes widen. “I suppose we do.” Then a second passes by. “Wow.”
“Is that a good wow?”
She looks down at me as if shocked at her realisation. “I can’t think of a single reason why this is a bad idea.”
I huff out a breath. “Then say yes.”
Her lips slowly rise into a smile. “Okay. Let’s do it.”
“Yeah?” I smile back.
She nods. “Yeah.”
Naturally, I pull her down towards me and my mouth edges towards hers, brushing her lips over and over until our foreheads meet.
“I don’t know how you’ve been so patient and put up with me all this time, but for the record, you’ve just made me the happiest girl on this Earth. I love you, Tommy. I hope you know how much.”
“Love you too.” I beam. “And whatever happens next for us, I’ll never let you go again.”