Page 82 of Everything After

When Alfie’s arrival cast a shadow over the table, Digs glanced up, slid back in his seat and held his beer up, acknowledging my husband.

“We don’t want to have to babysit you—” I heard Lennie saying before he abruptly stopped talking. He turned in his seat to see us.

“Lennie,” Alfie muttered, nodding. Lennie pushed his chair back, stood and took in the three people with us.

“I’m not sure you’ve ever met my friend Gary’s sister, Sienna, and his fiancée Kara,” Alfie said, pointing to each of the women.

“Nope never. I’d have remembered two stunning women like these,” he said, clutching Sienna, then Kara’s shoulders and air-kissing them.

“And this is Poppy, Kara’s daughter,” Alfie added, letting go of my waist, and maneuvering Poppy forward.

“How do you do, sweetheart,” Lennie asked, flashing a warm smile.

Shawn and Digs said “Hi”, in unison, but Cody, stood, cleared the table and stood in front of Sienna. “Hello, gorgeous. I’ve heard a lot about you over the years. What a shame that we’ve never met. Looks like Alfie’s kept all the gorgeous women for himself.” My chest tightened as I glanced at Alfie.

As if Alfie believed Cody wanted to get a rise out of him, his jaw tensed for a fleeting moment before he grinned. “Well, you know how it is, bud. I’m naturally protective of people that I care about.”

A wave of hurt swept through me, but I told myself it was Alfie’s way of warning Cody to stay in his lane.

Sienna, oblivious that there was ill-feeling between the two men, immediately struck up a conversation with Cody. This gave me time to study Alfie’s reaction to them talking together.

Relief washed over me when the wary look left Alfie’s eyes as he watched Cody, and I guessed he let his comment slide.

However, since I’d confided my feelings about Sienna and Alfie to Cody on the plane flying back to Miami that day, I took his comment as a blatant attempt to derail my trust in Alfie.

“What’s the matter? You don’t still think I have a thing for Sienna, do you?” Alfie quietly asked, as I watched Cody disappear inside with Alfie’s guests.

Pushing my thoughts to the side, I patted his chest. “No, no, I don’t. I just feel a little light-headed,” I lied.

“Come on, baby.” His eyes bunched in concern. “Let’s get you out of the sun for a bit. You need some sugar. We’ll get you a long lemonade and a seat in the shade until you feel better.”

“I’m fine, but that drink and a quiet moment with my husband sounds like exactly what I need.”

CHAPTER 47

ALFIE

It had been a long while since we’d chilled with friends old and new. Rick’s bandmates from Cobham Street had always held a special place in my heart. Rick had given Crakt Soundzz their debut opening gig, which had ultimately led to us being signed.

Lily was like the Pied Piper when it came to getting people together, and I was surprised that she’d managed to drag Gibson and Chloe Barclay away from their secluded spot in Colorado for the weekend.

My wife’s idea of a get-together was nothing like the wild events we attended when others threw parties. She made sure that ours involved good food, and people who mattered to us, as she had been used to smaller gatherings long before her fame.

A note of frustration crept in when I eyed Cody mooching around Sienna and Kara, and I wondered what his deal was. From the moment I’d introduced him, he’d taken it upon himself to play host to both women.

I tried to tell myself that at least he wasn’t focused on Lily for a change. After deciding he was being cordial for the moment, Ibegan to relax, although I knew if he made one false move, I’d struggle to keep my temper in check.

An hour and a couple of beers later, I had begun to relax when Lily came up and slipped her hand in mine. “When do you think we should tell them?” she asked, flashing me a nervous smile.

“Anytime you like, baby.”

“Tell them? Who are you talking about?” Jack asked, poking his nose in and pulling Lily away from me, and into his chest. The guy was always fucking with me regarding my wife, and although I’d accepted that they were nothing but close friends, sometimes I let him get to me.

“Nothing you do today will get a rise out of me, Jack,” I warned, unwrapping his arms from my wife and gently stealing her back from him. Lily laughed.

Jack pouted, then chuckled. “Okay, spill the tea. What secrets are you hiding and who needs to be told?”

“Hold that thought.” Alfie pointed at him, then reached out to a table, picked up a spoon and clinked a glass for attention. “Guys can we ask everyone to come inside for a few minutes?”