“Maybe.” I shrug.
Her mouth flickers into a smile. “I know it was.” Then she shifts her body next to mine and my lips are so close to hers when she says, “Tommy?”
“Yeah, babe.”
“Don't give up on me, okay?”
I lean in a little more. “I won’t. We’ve come so far; I’m not going to lose you now.” She’s so close I can’t hold back, and press my mouth to her full, cherry-red lips.
When we part, there are a few silent seconds when hereyes are closed, and she takes in a breath. She’s beautiful beyond compare but has no idea.
Slowly, she lays her head against my chest, and her body moulds with mine. “Can we make an agreement and start afresh? We need to stop dwelling on our messy past.”
There’s a warm sensation in my chest. “Okay.” I smile. “Sounds like a plan.” I note her eyes shine as I lean forward and steal another kiss.
When we pull back, Angie says, “At no point did I ever stop caring about you, Tom. I always wanted you to be happy.”
She still cared for me even when we weren’t together. I didn’t deserve her back then. I wasn’t ready for anything more, but I’m more than certain, I’m all in now.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
ANGIE
There’sa spring in my step this morning. Just the thought of spending another blissful day with Tommy sends goosebumps over my skin, although at some point, I will have to go home. I’ve taken a few days off to be here, but I have a business to run and can’t leave Chris to do all the work alone, although he was rather keen on me taking this holiday and working from home. I haven’t been back to the office since I stormed out. Still, it’s not fair, and I know time is ticking down until I have to leave this safe bubble Tommy has created for us.
The boys are singing downstairs, which means Connie must already have them up. I overslept a little today after the best night’s sleep I’ve had in a while, but all of a sudden, I feel like a terrible mother. Connie has been a great help to me lately, and Josh loves her, but I don’t want to stop doing the simple things for Josh I’ve always done, like making his breakfast and getting him up in the morning.
I fly downstairs, wrapping my silk dressing gown around me as I go. When I get there, it isn’t Connie making the boys' breakfast with their favourite Disney songs blaring from the speakers, but Tommy.
“Hey, here’s Mummy, Josh,” Tommy says with a frying pan in his hand.
“Hi, Mum.” Josh runs towards me until he’s close enough to sweep up for a cuddle. “How’s my boy this morning?” I ask, hugging him close.
“Good. Uncle Tommy is making breakfast.” He beams before he breaks free from my hold.
“How did you sleep?” Tommy asks, his fingertips brushing mine as he passes. My stomach flips in response.
“Great, actually. I didn’t mean to get up this late.”
“I thought you could do with the lie-in. Ozzie and Josh woke early, so we came down here for a Disney rock-out. Right, kids?”
The little ones are dancing around the room, giggling their heads off. I love watching them in their own happy little worlds. It makes me smile.
“Where’s Connie this morning?” I ask.
“Yoga class. I told her to take some time for herself.”
“Mummy, can I go in the sandpit with Ozzie?” Josh tugs on my jeans.
“Yes! Please, Angie,” Ozzie squeals.
“If I drag it to the back door, we can keep an eye on them,” I say, looking over my shoulder at Tommy.
“I’ve got it,” he replies. Placing his pan on the hob, he leaps out of the door, picks up the bright green plastic sandpit, and has it settled down on the decking before I’m able to offer some help. The boys dive in, still in their pyjamas. Who cares? If you can’t sit in the sandpit in your PJs when you’re five years old, when can you?
“Pancakes? Coffee? Tea?” Tommy calls from inside while I watch the boys play. He’s already back on breakfast duty.
“Coffee please, and those pancakes smell gorgeous.”
