Page 154 of Everything After

“I thought that too… that I couldn’t have it all,” I argued in favor of Coral.

“And now you think you can?” Coral asked. I became aware that Lennie was watching our exchange out of the corner of his eye.

“Don’t eavesdrop Lennon. If you want to listen to us, at least look interested,” I said, calling him out. Everyone’s head turned to look at us because I’d used his full name and not the shortened version, like I usually would have.

“I’m not making a secret of listening. I don’t need to be standing over there… nothing wrong with my hearing.”

“Lennie. If you can’t be civil, you can take your ass back to the mainland. Lily’s breastfeeding, I won’t have her stressed. It affects the quality of her milk,” Alfie scolded.

I chuckled, so did Elle and Coral. “Now, I never thought I’d ever hear that as a threat coming from Alfie Black,” Elle muttered, biting back a grin.

“I have no intention of arguing, but I’d like to speak to Lily alone,” Lennie stated, cutting straight to the chase.

“Not an option today, I’m afraid,” Alfie muttered as he lifted Charlie and placed him in Coral’s arms.

“I just want to tell her how sorry I am,” Lennie countered.

Hearing those words come from Lennie’s mouth filled me with hope for us as friends. A wave of emotion swept me up and I tried not to cry. “I appreciate your apology. Now, if everyone would excuse us for a few minutes, Iwouldlike to speak to Lennie on his own.”

“Me too then,” Alfie stated, standing like he was ready to follow us out.

“No, Alfie… I can do this by myself.”

“If you need me…” he mumbled.

“I’ll be fine,” I insisted.

“Don’t let me down,” Alfie warned Lennie.

“He won’t,” Rick muttered, placing a hand on Alfie’s shoulder.

My husband checked out Rick’s hand, then shrugged it off. “It’ll be a bag-to-go instead of dinner, if he gets this wrong,” Alfie warned Rick.

I led Lennie from the sitting room to the music room. The moment we entered, the argument we’d had months ago came flooding back.

He waved his hand toward me in a half-hearted gesture. “Do you want to go first?”

“No. I’d like to hear you out,” I explained, sounding calm as I sat on one of the plush seats.

“I was a dick,” Lennie admitted. “Your pregnancy took me by surprise… it was the last thing I expected.”

“I think we established that,” I replied. I tried to keep the sarcasm from my tone, but it came through, nevertheless.

“That stand-in girl we had cut the album with us—she did a half-decent job.”

“I haven’t heard the album,” I admitted. “No one gave me a copy.”

“You didn’t download the digital version?”

“No… I’ve been busy.”

He moved away from the door for the first time and sat down next to me. “So have you decided what you want to do?” he asked, changing tact.

“If we’re talking music-wise, I’ve recorded a collaboration with Delilah. Other than that, I’m not sure what’s next.”

“Do you think you can see yourself back with the band?”

I fell silent because the thought of drawing a line under my time with XrAid was a huge decision to make. Then again, so wasdeciding to leave Alfie and Charlie behind while I stayed with them.