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We’re sittingaround Bobby’s dining table, drinking the strange coffee cocktails Em’s made. She’s claiming they are espresso martinis and our uncouth Croydon pallets just can’t manage them, but I have already begged to differ. We’re laughing about the day we met Em at a video shoot of ours. Her modelling group was booked as extras and that’s where her and Bobby met and started their slightly complicated affair.
Finch has their son Eddie bouncing up and down on his knee and I didn’t think I’d like the look of dad on him, but it kind of works in a moody Kyle Finch kind of way.
“There’s my gorgeous man!” Cassy squeals as she walks in. Typical Cassy, no knocking just let yourself in like you own the place. She pads across the room in her skinny jeans and leather jacket. I watch Finch’s face light up as she completely ignores him and plucks Eddie from his lap and rests him on her hip covering his little face in kisses. He squeals in pure delight as she takes a perch on Finch’s lap. Damn she’s going to make a good auntie! She already is to Eddie.
I push back in my chair as Ali follows Cassy into the room, her hair tied up in a pony-tail, her cotton dress fresh and sensible with just the tiniest hint of baby bump poking through. I stand to greet her as choruses of congratulations come from our friends. Her face flush’s pink.
“Thanks guys! Sorry I’m a bit later than Cassy, my god having a baby pushes on your bladder!” she giggles as Em laughs and nods in agreement.
“Doesn’t it just!” She laughs. “Alison, can I get you a drink? I’ve made espresso martini’s for everyone except awkward Finch . Yours is obviously a mocktail but I have had to keep Max off of it. Your boy’s been tucking in,” she laughs, and I just shrug as I wrap my arm around her shoulder.
“You’re drinking mocktails?” she laughs, and I shrug again with another nod.
“I had a drink at the club. I’m good, Angel. Promise,” I say so only she can hear as Em goes to the kitchen to refill the drinks and the guys are distracted by my little sister blowing raspberries for Eddie.
“Everything go, okay?” I ask her, and she nods.
“I’ve got us another picture, Max. It’s in the car.” She smiles madly at me, and my heart feels like it could burst, being in this room full of so much love. That I’m here again with all these people. My family.
“I can’t wait to see it.” I run a hand across her belly through her dress and smile at her. “How was your mum?”
“She was mum. She is what she is, Max, but she was there. So that’s…” she lets out a sigh. “Well, that’s just that isn’t it,” she finishes as she looks up at my eyes, searching. For what I don’t know, but I run my hands around her shoulders and pull her into my body and push a kiss to her forehead. I notice her eyes scanning the room, sensing there’s no judgement here, she plays with the hem of my t-shirt.
“Can we just have a minute?” she asks quietly, and I nod as I take her hand and walk out of the dining room and into the hall.
“Everything okay, Angel?” I ask her once I know we’re alone. Her jade-green eyes find mine, looking a bit lost.
“Max, I’m sorry,” she mumbles as she looks to the floor. My fingers find her chin and lift her face so our eyes are locked again.
“Ali, talk to me.”
