Page 95 of Everything After

“Would you set it up? Maybe in the next week or two if you can. I’m going to my college reunion in a few days’ time, so any time after that?”

“Perfect. I warned her that I’d be talking to you. She’s nervous.”

“As she should be. I figure if the shoe was on the other foot, she wouldn’t have been so forgiving.”

“See, that’s why she was reluctant to be in my wedding party. She’s realized how badly she behaved, to leave you like that.”

“Tell me she’s at least still with the guy she dumped us for.”

Holly nodded. “Two kids too, but I was shocked because he’s more than a fair bit older than her. You’ll meet them all at the wedding.”

“Dare I ask, is Max coming?”

“Oh, yeah, he’s going to be there… their whole family will be. My dad and Saffy’s dad go way back, remember?”

My heart sank because I knew Alfie would have plenty to say about us attending a wedding with a guy he knows I slept with and almost blew him off for.

CHAPTER 53

ALFIE

Imagine Dragons belted out their drum heavy number “Believer” as Brett and I worked a circuit of equipment in my home gym. It felt great for once to work out with someone who matched my energy and not with Oscar, whose pro-football level and martial arts level of fitness wiped the floor with mine.

“Tell me to mind my own business but I couldn’t help overhearing Gibson’s comment earlier.”

“Oh, yeah. I called him about that. He wanted to ask if I’d do a duet with him to raise money for that African village he supports. He has a vision of building larger houses for multiple occupancy since the seniors are living much longer.”

“Are you doing it?”

“Absolutely. You don’t turn down the opportunity to work with a guy like Gibson.”

We fell silent, both listening to my motivational playlist and concentrating on our fitness regimes. When “Want You Back” by HAIM began, Brett interrupted again.

“I was surprised when you announced you guys were pregnant,” Brett ground out, kinda breathless as he bench pressed some weights.

“Us too,” I remarked, chuckling, even though that familiar pang of regret burst inside my chest because I hadn’t found out about the baby at the same time as Lily.

“We were talking last night, and Holly was stunned at the news… excited for you both of course, but she said that Lily had always said she wasn’t ready for kids,” Brett disclosed.

“She is now,” I said, defending my wife. “We have no choice but to be ready. As the pregnancy wasn’t planned it was a shock for sure, and if I’m honest, she’s a little nervous about the responsibilities of motherhood and being able to balance those with her band.”

“Yeah, I could see from Lennie’s reaction there may be an issue. I mean, they could have been more supportive when she announced the news yesterday.”

“Digs and Shawn appeared okay, but I think how Lennie took the news came as a blow to her. I mean, he’s always been protective of her. Personally, I think his reaction was a wake-up call for Lily. Everyone’s your greatest supporter until the chips are down and you do something that has the potential to piss on their parade.”

Brett nodded. “Don’t I know that feeling,” he muttered in agreement.

I thought about digging deeper into his comment. From what I’d heard, Holly had pushed back when her daddy wanted her to marry his company’s finance director.

Brett was an amazing guy. He’d made pots of money on the stock market, but Holly’s family were oil-baron rich. Fortunately for him, Holly understood that money can’t buy love, but I guess marrying into a family of such wealth must be a tad intimidating.

I was thankful when the gym door squeaked open, and saw Delilah was there. The last thing I’d needed was to have gotten bogged down in someone else’s relationship issues when Lily and I had barely recovered from our own.

“Sorry, I woke up and I couldn’t find anyone. I-I just followed the music. I didn’t mean to interrupt you.”

“We thought you’d gone already. Come on, we’re finished up here anyway. Let’s go find Lily, and you can get a ride back to the mainland with Holly, Brett and the dressmaker.”

“Wedding dress designer,” Brett corrected. “I called Charlotte that and Holly’s mom nearly tore me a new one.”