Angie bursts out laughing. “You are no sister of mine and Tommy doesn’t have a violent bone in his body.”
I glance at Angie and catch her eye. It lasts for less than a second, but there’s a silent conversation taking place. Angie knows me better than anyone and she has my back.
Chelsea takes in a deep breath, and I notice she’s grinding her teeth. What the hell is going through her mind? She mustbe fucking stupid if she thinks Angie would side with her. Finally, she responds. “I will be back for my son, and I intend to take him home with me.” She scowls.
“I’ll let him know you had to rush off and how sorry you are,” I growl back at her.
She throws me a death stare, turns abruptly on her heels, and storms towards the door, slamming it firmly as she leaves.
It takes me a minute to calm down. That woman winds me up like no one else.
Angie walks straight into my arms, probably out of pure relief. “Jesus, are you okay? How the hell did you end up in this situation?”
I pull back from her, holding her shoulders. There’s just one thing on my mind. “Why did you say Calla caught her and Dylan together?”
Her mouth twitches and her eyes narrow. “Sorry?”
“You said Calla caught them at it. Why? Unless I’m going mad, it was definitely Max who caught them in the act, and no one else was with him.”
Her hand rests at the base of her neck, and she frowns. “I’m sorry, Tommy, but I don’t know anything about Max seeing them together.”
“Are you sure?”
She nods. “Yes, and I thought you knew.”
I shake my head. “Max told me himself. Unless—fuck.” The worst possible scenario plays into my head. “Do you think they both caught them at different times?”
Angie’s eyes are wide and her face is bright red. “Oh, God.” She touches my arm. “I’m so sorry, Tommy. I assumed Cal was the one to talk to you about it. I had no idea you found out another way.” Her hand slips into mine, holding it loosely. She’s trying to comfort me, but I’m rattled. I can’thelp the growl that leaves my throat. “Fuck. Everyone knew but me. Everyone.”
“No, Tom.”
“No? But you did, right? And Calla and Max.”
Her hand drops from mine and she chews one of her fingernails. “Yes?—”
“Fuck.” I spit, stepping away from her, running my fingers through my hair and pacing in circles.
Angie steps in my path, laying her palm against my chest. “Please, talk to me so we can make some kind of sense out of all this.”
I silently nod for her to carry on.
Her worried eyes catch mine. “Can we at least sit down?”
“You can. I’m fine where I am.” I need space around me before I sink my fist into a wall. My pride is hurt. I feel like a fucking fool.
Angie takes a seat at the table, her head bowed. “Calla called me the night you found out Brett was leaving the band. She was so upset, and I assumed it was because of that, but it turned out to be much worse.” She puffs out a breath. “Calla saw Dylan and Chelsea together backstage during one of your shows. They were getting intimate.”
My body tenses. “Jesus Christ.”
Angie stands and slowly steps towards me. She loops her hand through the crook of my arm while stroking my biceps with her other hand. “Please don’t be angry with Calla. She didn’t want to hurt you, Tommy. She didn’t have a clue what to do for the best and couldn’t even bring herself to tell Ash. You know those two have no secrets.”
I look down into her big blue eyes. “Wait. Ash had no idea?”
She shakes her head. “No. Please, Tommy. Please don’t blame this on her. She was in the worst position.”
Inside, I know this. Calla would never hurt me, and she’s had my back more times than I can remember, even when she didn’t agree with what I did. “No, I get it. I’m just so fucking livid about the whole thing.”
Angie squeezes my bicep. “Of course you are. That cow. I never liked her.”
