Angie’s eyes narrow towards me and I realise I’m studying her. Fuck. This is not healthy. I need something to break the spell, so I lean across the bar. “Let me get you both a drink. What do you fancy? Champagne? Cocktail?”
“Soda water, please, Tommy.”
Okay. That’s not like Mrs C. “Straight soda water. Nothing else?”
She thinks for a second. “Maybe with a splash of gin, then.”
I grin. “I’ll see what I can do.” Then my attention is back on Angie. “What’s your poison, babe?”
“Cranberry juice for me, please.”
“Really? I’ve never known you to turn down a drink before.”
“I’ve still got duties to perform, and the last thing Cal needs is a staggering bridesmaid. I’m no good when I’ve had a few.” She blushes.
“If you say so.” I smirk.
As soon as our drinks arrive, I knock my whiskey back with one gulp, then order another.
“Are you okay?” Angie nods towards my empty glass.
“Yeah, I’m good.” I smile, and her wet, cranberry lips smile back. It’s the sweetest sight, and I spend too many seconds watching them roll together until Angie points to the other side of the room, and I follow her line of sight.
“Scott is calling me over. I won’t be long. Save my seat, would you, Liz?”
“Of course, love.” Mrs C smiles.
A moment of silence follows while I watch Angie walkaway, then Mrs C asks a question right out of the blue. “Tell me, Tommy? Are you happy?”
I mull over my reply for a beat, then blow out a long, drawn-out breath. “Yeah, I think so.”
“And things are going well with your girlfriend?”
Chelsea is high maintenance, although she’s lasted longer than most women I’ve dated. She hasn’t left my New York apartment since the day we met on a flight from London a few months ago. She was one hell of an attentive air hostess.
“Yeah, not bad.”
“Hmm.” Mrs C gives me the side eye. “It’s none of my business, Tommy, but I’d be careful if I were you.”
“Why? Chelsea is harmless and I like having her around.”
“It’s just something Angie mentioned.”
“Like what?”
“It doesn’t matter.” She shakes her head and looks at her hands. Clearly, Mrs C doesn’t want to get Angie in the shit. “Do you love her?” she asks out of nowhere.
“I care about her.”
Her head tilts to the side. “That’s not what I asked, love.”
“I know.” I take a swig of my whiskey and she places her hand on my arm.
“I worry about you.”
“There’s no need. I’m happy, but not head over heels, that’s all.”
“So, she isn’t the girl for you long term?” Her soothing tone makes me want to tell her everything.
