Page 136 of Everything After

“Nooo,” I drew out. “I think Lennie knows not to call back after our conversation. I’ll give you one guess who it is.”

“Cody?”

I chuckled. “Hardly, if he knows what’s good for him. No, Lily, it’s Lennie’s keeper—Rick.”

CHAPTER 71

ALFIE

“You don’t show up at a person’s house unannounced,” I muttered when Rick called from the dock on the other side of the water.

“Am I not welcome?” he asked in a flat tone.

“Not if you’re coming to plead Lennie’s case,” I replied.

“Lennie’s his own man, I’m mine. Now do I get to come see Lily or am I not welcome?”

“You’re welcome so long as you don’t stress my wife out,” I replied, even though I was suspicious of his motive. I’d barely gotten off the phone to Lennie when Rick had called, although I deduced that he must have already been on his way before Lennie’s call.

It wasn’t even fifteen minutes later when Lily met Rick at our front door.

“Hello, princess,” he muttered, sweeping her in for a hug. “Whoa.” Rick stepped back and glanced down at Lily’s neat bump then grinned. “Hard to imagine the badass rock chick on stage that you are, with the gentle, sweet mom I know you’ll be.”

Lily smiled, but it was tight and didn’t reach her eyes. “Thanks, well… it’s happening.”

“Through here,” I said, interrupting them from the hallway. I gestured for them to go into the kitchen.

Rick grabbed Lily’s hand and covered it with his other one. “How’re you doing, sweetheart?” he asked as they followed my lead.

“Good,” Lily replied deadpan.

Rick let go of her hand, pulled out a chair for my wife, and once she was settled, he took the one next to her. “Any latte going?” he asked me as he tipped his chin toward our coffee machine.

“Sure,” I replied and began to make his drink. “Green tea, Lily?” I asked.

“That would be good,” she replied.

“What’s with the ‘goods’?” Rick’s eyes were studious when he frowned at Lily.

“Goods?” she asked, glancing up at me. I’d turned at his comment and her worried eyes met mine.

“Yeah. How are you? ‘Good’. That would be ‘good’… all the goods,” he said, repeating Lily’s replies. He sighed. “Tell you what, shall we deal with the elephant in the room so we can both get whatever is on our chests off, then maybe I can have a proper visitation with my ‘good’ friends.” He made quotes in the air with his fingers to emphasize his use of the word.

“You said you weren’t coming here for Lennie,” I challenged.

“I didn’t but since the conversation has been reduced to a few words either way this visit has all the hallmarks of an interview. I ask a question, and you give me the appropriate answer without elaborating further.”

“I won’t have Lily harassed. She made a difficult decision and I’m going to ensure she gets the time she needs to work this out in her head.”

“As she should,” he agreed. He gave us an awkward look while he scratched his beard. “Lennie’s been an ass, I told him as much. I have no clue what’s gotten into him lately. He’s tried to call again today, I take it? Did you answer him this time?” he asked Lily.

“He didn’t call Lily this time, he called me,” I replied.

He chuckled. “Interesting, the guy’s growing some balls, who’d have thunk it?”

Lily and I shared a look. “I had to step away,” she finally said to Rick.

“Sweetheart, you should always do whatever makes you happy. If the band isn’t cutting it for you right now, it’s only right you take time to decide what’s next.”