“Bye, Oz.”
“We’ll see you in a while,” Connie says.
“Thanks, Connie.” I smile.
As the boys follow her out the door, Angie calls after Josh, “Be good for Connie.”
“Okay.” He waves.
“She’s amazing.” Angie’s head bobs towards the door as they leave.
“I struck lucky there.”
“You really did, and I appreciate you sharing her. She seems like a lovely girl and is fantastic with the boys. A real natural.” She waits a beat before adding, “Thanks again for yesterday. It’s made a real difference to us already. Josh seems happier now he knows Agatha isn’t coming back.”
I grin, “No problem. Happy to help.”
Angie chews the corner of her bottom lip in thought. “So, what are your plans now Ash and Calla are away for a while?” Angie says, taking a seat beside me.
I blow out a hard breath. “To be honest, I’ll see how it goes. Ash said me and Max could stay here, which is what I want to do for now.”
She nods. “That’s good to hear. I like having you around.” Her face blushes and she half smiles. It’s cute.
“How are things with Chelsea?” she asks.
I huff out a laugh. “We’ve split, but I guess you already know that.”
“Only what Cal tells me.”
“I thought as much.” I smirk. “I was gonna talk to you about it yesterday, but you had enough on your plate without hearing my shit.”
She leans in, placing the palm of her hand on my knee. “I would have listened. This friendship thing works two ways,” she says, raising her brows before sitting back in her seat.
“Did you know she hasn’t been in touch since she left me?”
Her brows raise again. “Hasn’t she called Oz?”
I sit back, stretch my legs out under the table, and cross them at the ankle. “Not once.”
“Oh my God. Has he asked for her?”
“Once or twice, but he seems okay. While I was away on tour, Chelsea would disappear for days and leave him with Connie. I think he’s used to it.”
“Jesus. That’s shocking. I don’t know how she can do that to her child.” Angie shakes her head, biting the corner of her mouth. “And how are you doing?”
“I’m okay. Chelsea and I haven’t been a real couple in a while. I’m only sad for Oz. She doesn’t seem to give a shit about him.”
Angie gets up from her seat, places herself onto my lap, hugs me close and sets my pulse racing in the process. This is new. We’ve become better friends over the last few years, but she’s never been this forward. Maybe it has something to do with yesterday. There was a shift between us, and I’ve got tosay, I like her confidence today. It reminds me of the Angie of old.
Her familiar, flowery scent hits my senses, and the heat of her body next to mine is more than welcome. I press against her as if she’s my second skin, and for a few moments, I lose myself.
All too fast, she breaks away, taking herself off my lap and flicking the kettle on. I immediately feel the loss of her.
“How could any mother be so bloody selfish?” she says while clattering around the kitchen.
I take in the shape of her body from behind, but as soon as Angie looks over her shoulder, I look the other way and Angie continues to talk as if she hasn’t noticed.
“We both know my feelings on the subject. She was never good enough for you, Tommy.”
