Fuck. How late was she? “Sure, but it must have been pretty late. I didn’t hear you come in.”
“Just ask her what time Angie came home, for fuck's sake,” Max growls into his coffee cup. “Even I can see what you’re getting at.”
I stare at him. “Hey, are you okay, man? It’s just you look like shit and don’t smell too fresh either, which is a little out there considering you said you were going for a walk on the beach last night. Did you go to that club or just the local brewery?”
He stares back, grumpy as all hell. I can’t remember the last time I saw him in such a state. “I had a change of plan and went for a few drinks.” Then a smirk appears on his face. “Actually, I bumped into an old friend. You remember Jade, right?”
A cold shiver runs down my spine. “Jesus, I’d prefer not to.”
He laughs. “She just likes a good time. You know that better than anyone.”
“Not me, thank fuck. She was more Ash’s type. That girl was trouble years ago and she hasn’t changed… so I’m told.”
“Oh, yeah. She’s very, very bad.” He smirks.
“I’ll just take Oz into the garden to eat his porridge, Tommy. It’s a beautiful day,” Connie interrupts, picking up the bowl and then calling for Oz. He runs into the kitchen, but she guides him out of the back door at lightning speed.
“What the hell was that?” I look at Max, a little pissed off. “Why did you talk shit in front of Connie? You’ve embarrassed the crap out of her. Did you have to?”
“Living with you, I’m sure she’s heard worse,” he says, staring into his coffee.
“I’m a married man. Remember that. At least, I was.” My voice fades as I take a step back.I’m single again. I should get used to it.“Anyway, tell me nothing happened with Jade last night. You know she has history with Ash, and Calla can’t stand her. Come to think of it, Angie will have something to say about it?—”
“Jesus, I get it. She’s not the most popular girl in town.”
“Not with the female population of Braebeach, no.” I raise my brow. That’s an understatement.
“Don’t sweat it, Tommy. I binned her after a couple of drinks. Her voice was grating on me.”
“Then what was all that about?”
“Just winding you up, that’s all. Do you think I don’t know how everyone feels about her? I just wanted to see the look on your face.”
Part of me doesn’t believe that show was for my benefit. “So, you weren’t trying to make Connie jealous?”
“What? No! It’s got nothing to do with Miss Goody Two Shoes.”
“Hey, she’s a good girl. There’s nothing wrong with that.”What the hell has got into him?“And get cleaned up, dude. You stink.”
“Love you too,” he mumbles, then gives me the finger. Iget the message. It’s better to leave him with his fragile head and shit mood.
I step outside the garden door, taking in the wooden veranda, blue sky, and sea. It’s pretty mild this morning compared to the cold rain of the last few days. Connie is sitting at the outdoor table, listening to Oz chat away while he eats.
“Hey, you two.” I grin.
“Hey,” they say in unison, but Oz soon gets back to his porridge and I take a seat beside him. “I hope Max didn’t make you feel uncomfortable,” I ask Connie.
Her lips form a straight line. “No, he’s fine. I wasn’t really listening.”
Thank fuck for that. “Actually, I just wanted to ask you something without big ears in there making it into something it’s not.”
“Ahh, you want an update on Angie. She got home around one-thirty.”
I grin, loving how direct Connie is. “And she seemed okay to you?”
“Yeah. She was… okay, and the guy who took her out seemed nice.”
From my viewpoint, the guy sounds dull as shit. “Did you talk to him?”
