“What does that mean?”
“Nix is freaking out,” Tabby said cheerfully. "If she gets access to money or a phone, she’ll call Aaron and ask for her ring back. So, she’s under house arrest and we must stay here and make sure she doesn’t make the worst decision in the world just because she’s already hired wedding caterers.”
Noah stared at the DaSilvas’ front door. He could hear more shouting now, was it Nicole calling out in grief, or Sam trying to contain her? Was she okay? Was anyone comforting her?
“Noah, mate, you there?”
He swallowed. “I thought the girl kept the ring?”
“Usually, but Aaron’s such a tightarse pie-fucker he asked for it back. Hey, are you free next Saturday?”
“Why?”
“I’m planning a party. Well, more of a big drunken soirée. It’s to help Nix get over her failed engagement.”
That sounded like a fucking terrible idea, but what did he know? His longest relationship had lasted six months. “Sure. Well, I’m gonna go open the studio.”
“No, wait!” He heard several loud footsteps and then the front door flew open to reveal the youngest DaSilva in a red silk dress and yellow gumboots, her blue hair tied into a knot. “Let’s get a coffee!” Tabby said.
“Uh…”
She tutted. “Come on, man, I need to get out of the house.”
“What about Nicole?”
“She’s fine! Sam’s just put her in the bath with a glass of straight gin!”
Noah tried not to think about Nicole in the bath, drunk and needing consolation. He tried not to think about anything at all. His head felt like it had just been stuffed with fifty hard drives’ worth of information. He needed time to sort this all out. “I should go back to the studio.”
“Later.” Tabby grabbed his arm and steered him toward the sidewalk. Noah decided to let her, it was easier that way. They walked toward Sydney Road.
“So,” Tabby said. “What’s new, Nobo? You still slamming Kelly?”
Noah liked Tabby, but sometimes he wished she’d never showed up to help Sam with the studio. She didn’t give him sleepless nights like Nicole, but she also didn’t bring the slightest bit of structure, levelheadedness or homemade cookies to Silver Daughters. Instead, she brought a thirst for drama, shitty nicknames and unhelpful observations.
“Don’t look so shocked,” Tabby said. “I saw the two of you leave together at Scott’s housewarming. Sam knows, although she’s all‘respect his privacy, blah, blah, blah.’Nice work, man, Kelly’s helly-hot. I would say ‘hella,’ but it rhymes better this way.”
Noah didn’t say anything and they walked to Hammers in silence. When they arrived, Tabby strode up to the counter. “Latte for the big guy, almond milk frappe for me, please.”
The barista grinned, clearly under the impression they were a couple. Fat fucking chance. Tabby was attractive but with her blue hair and colourful tatts, she reminded him of a Pokémon. She was the furthest thing from his type. He fucked women who had piercings and liked it rough in bed and told stories about this ex-boyfriend selling gear for the Banditos or that cousin doing time for armed robbery. The kind of women who looked at him and saw something familiar.
Although, Nicole wasn’t like that and it didn’t seem to matter. He wanted her like she was the last woman on earth and now she was single. He nudged Tabby out of the way and paid for their coffee. Would he get a chance to make good on all those heated little looks Nicole shot him? Should he order her a latte, take it back and—
What? Ask if she wanted a rebound fuck? On the wake of her engagement collapsing? Christ, if she didn’t skin him, Sammy would.
Get real, he told himself, as he and Tabby moved aside to wait for their order. He and Nicole had chemistry, but she was rigid in a way her sisters weren’t. Conservative. He bet she’d never had sex outside a relationship and even if she did, it wouldn’t be with him. Probably consider it a reduction on her overall marriage value. He liked fantasy novels, but he wasn’t dumb enough to confuse them with the real world, or the shitty past he’d climbed out of.
His pocket buzzed but he ignored his phone. He had a feeling it’d be Imogen, or Jessica. He’d been fucking around lately, wanting a distraction that never fucking came.
Tabby turned to him, her fingers steepled in a way that reminded him of TV therapists. “You must be wondering why I asked you to have coffee with me?”
He stayed quiet.
“How long could you stay quiet if you wanted to?
Forever.
He raised his eyebrows at Tabby, who sighed. “I asked for one reason and one reason only. I need you to come to Nix’s party. Like I really need that.”