“Don’t beat around the bush, babe.” I laugh, but her face drops. Shit, what did I say? “Angie?”
“It's okay, Tommy. Just me being silly.”
“Hey.” I get up, taking a step towards her and lifting her chin with my finger so our eyes connect. “You can tell me.”
Tears form and run a line down her cheeks. “Scott used to say that to me all the time.” Then she mimics his deep voice. “Don’t beat around the bush, Angie. Tell it how it is.” She sniffs.
The nearest thing to me is kitchen roll, so I rip off a square and wipe away her tears. Before she’s ready to talk again, Angie seems deep in thought.
“I still miss him, Tommy. It’s ridiculous, I know but I can’t help it.”
“Hey, it's okay.” I take her into my arms and rub her back. We stay that way for a little while and our bodies connect.
“I’m sorry. I don’t know why I’m so emotional.”
“I’m not worried that you burst into tears every time you see me. Not worried at all.” She looks up at me and catches my smirk. She huffs out a laugh before laying her head back on my chest, and I cup the back of her head. “You’re exhausted, Angie. Cal told me how hard you've been working and, from what I saw yesterday, she wasn’t wrong.”
She sighs. “I've got to pay the bills, so I don’t have any choice but to work hard.”
I hold her in comfortable silence, and I can tell she’s daydreaming. “It’s odd. I can go days without thinking about him, then bang, something happens to remind me.”
I feel guilty. Her tears are my fault. “If I’d known?—”
“Please don’t blame yourself. Anything can spark it off. His favourite song on the radio, or I might see someone who looks like him—anything.” She sighs. “Will I ever get over missing him?”
While I hold her in my arms, I try to figure out an answer. “Maybe you won’t.”
She pulls back and looks up at me again. “Well, that’s bloody helpful.” There’s a half smile through the tears.
I guide her head back to my chest. “No, what I mean is, you’re getting through each day and coping great because you have a lot on your plate. But during the quiet times, your mind remembers people you miss. Not that I’m an expert in any of this stuff.”
Angie is quiet for a few seconds, while she stays in my embrace. Did I say the wrong thing? “Hey, take no notice of me. What do I know?”
She pulls back, looking up towards me and her eyes delve deep into mine. “You seem to understand better than anyone else. Some people would say six years is long enough to get over losing someone, but not you. What you said actuallymade some sense.” There’s sadness in her smile and I wish I could lift her pain that is so clearly holding her down. “Thanks, Tommy. You always know what to say.”
“No sweat,” I say, combing her hair away from her face with my fingers. “And for the record, I don’t have a clue what to say most of the time. I just open my mouth and the words fall out.”
She giggles while her small hand cups my jaw. “You’re such a good man. How could Chelsea be so cruel to you?”
Trying to lighten the mood of our conversation, I joke, “Oh, we’re back to her.”
Angie giggles again while sniffing back her tears. “I’m sorry.” She half smiles before biting her lip. “I know what happened, you know. With Chelsea.”
I’m lost. “Okay. Which part are you talking about exactly?”
Angie’s eyes glance away from mine. “Her affair with Dylan.”
“Who told you, or do I really have to ask?” Moving my head from side to side, I attempt to release the sudden knot in my neck. Fucking Max. I can’t believe he’s opened his mouth.
“Please don’t be angry.”
Her eyes plead with me and my annoyance subsides. How could I be angry when she’s looking at me like that? “It’s okay, I get it. We’re a close knit group.”
Relief shines through her eyes and her smile. “You’re a brilliant friend, Tom. I hope you realise that.”
“Yeah, yeah.” I smile. “I’m fucking amazing.”
Angie smacks my chest with her palm as she laughs, then snuggles against me. “I wouldn’t go that far.”
