“No, Tia. You’ve gotta be tired from all that traveling. And I’m okay. I ate a huge lunch a few hours ago with Angel.”
“What’s she like?”
“She’s gorgeous. She’s nice. She’s broken. Understandably. But Dare is head over heels. It’s good to see. I think he can help her heal.”
I smiled, “I’m happy for him.”
“They have a long road ahead of them.”
“I bet they do.”
“How’s your and Tommy’s road? Things okay? You take your own advice and talk it out if you need to, too, babes. Okay?”
I waved my hand, “It’s not exactly okay but it will be. For better or for worse, you know.”
She nodded, “Till death do us part.” She choked on a sob.
I hugged her. I felt so bad for her. She was so young and beautiful both inside and out and she’d been through so much in her life so far.
“I’m gonna go lie down,” she finally pulled away.
“I’ll check on you when we get back.”
“Don’t. You guys’ll be exhausted by then, especially with how full you’ll be. Ed really knows how to feed people.”
“That, he does.”
“See you at breakfast.”
“Okay, Lisa. Feel better.”
She nodded.
I went to grab a shower and unpack what we’d brought. The rest of our things were here, the things we hadn’t gotten rid of or brought with us, our clothes were in the closet and Sarah had stocked the bathroom with toiletries for us. Tommy’s cars were here, my personal things. It was nice to be close to those things but it felt weird.
Tonight we were doing this dinner thing and tomorrow I was going to be calling on Mia and the gang at the Crenshaws. She said Tommy and I were expected for dinner at six o’clock. I’d talked to her before we’d left for the airport and she sounded skeptical but yet excited at the idea of my coming to see her. I was both looking forward to and dreading that at the same time.
Dare
We got to Ed & Luc’s and Lisa hadn’t shown up. I was asking about her when Tia embraced me at the front door and I introduced Angel to her. Two seconds into that introduction Luc and Tess grabbed Angel and brought her to the family room and Tia hung back and told me Lisa wasn’t feeling good but when I asked if she looked like she’d been crying Tia nodded with concern etched on her face.
I texted Lisa.
“You need anything? You ok?”
She answered right away.
“I’m fine. Sorry to bail on you tonight but it was a bit much. I’m okay, though. Just wanna have a quiet night alone. I’m gonna eat some ice cream and watch a comedy.”
“Ok. You need anything, you tell me. Ok? You sure you’re ok?”
“Yes. Totally fine. Have a good night.”
I went into the family room and Angel was sitting on the sofa getting passed a crying baby Nicky. He settled instantly. Serena and Katrina were both playing with her hair.
She smiled at me. I couldn’t take my eyes off her. She was gorgeous all the time but right now, a baby in her arms and toddlers all over her? Fuck.
Tommy clapped me on the shoulder and jerked his chin toward the other room for us to step out and talk.