“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 soangry, 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.”
