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“Patrick’s office, chatting with him about Marquis.” A little smile curved her lips, amused at Adam’s evasion. One of the best things about Olivia was she did her best not to stick her nose in where she wasn’t wanted. She didn’t do much in the way of unsolicited advice.
The worst thing was she was usually right and got great joy out of making her friends ask for her help.
“Are they planning on doing something new?” Patrick was the owner of Stronghold and one of three owners of Marquis. Adam glanced over at Michael, Angel’s ‘pretty boy’ friend, who was the third owner.
“No, just going over end-of-year stuff.” Olivia followed the direction of Adam’s gaze. “Michael already got the rundown, but he doesn’t feel the need to endlessly talk through all the details the way Patrick and Luke do.” Since Adam tended to fall more on the same side as Patrick and Luke, especially when it came to business, he shook his head. The details were important. “Nice to see you here tonight.”
“Nice to be here.” He kept his tone casual. “Although I think we’ve been here more often than you, recently.”
“Marquis keeps me busy.” Olivia smiled fondly as Angel said something that sent the others into gales of laughter. Angel was cracking up, and jealousy creaked through Adam’s chest. They rarely laughed like that together anymore. “It’s always nice to get a break from things and be able to come here to see my friends. I miss you all.”
“We miss you, too.” It was nice to know he wasn’t the only one who felt the strain of not being around as much.
“You know what I really miss? Ladies’ night.” Olivia paused for a moment before continuing. “I didn’t realize it, but Angel was almost always the one who organized those for the group. She’s like the center of the wheel we all turn around.” Turning her head to meet his eyes, Olivia smiled widely at him. “I’m gonna go say hi.” Turning away, she moved to Angel, who greeted her with a squeal and arms flung around Olivia’s neck.
Though Adam had gathered a group of friends who were like family, he knew Angel was even more friend-focused than he’d ever been. She was like a friendship octopus, reaching with her tentacles, pulling people in, and never letting them go. Except she had way more tentacles than an octopus. A friendship Kraken, maybe?
He tried to remember the last time Angel had gone out with friends on her own. He and Angel went out to Stronghold, occasionally to gatherings at friends’ houses, or had friends come over, but it was always together. When was the last time they’d done something with their friends on their own?
When was the last time she’d had a ladies’ night, on her own, without having to think about getting back home to Melody?
A wave of guilt swept through him along with an inner voice saying ‘duh.’
Dammit, Olivia.
Angel
Breastfeeding was like being on a boob leash.
Being in a corset probably didn’t help since everything was compressed to the point her boobs were getting painful. She asked Kate to loosen it a little so she could stay at Stronghold longer. Maybe she should have brought her breast pump, although she wouldn’t have had anywhere to store the milk.
They still stayed later than they would have if Melody wasn’t sleeping over at her mom’s. It was midnight by the time her boobs started aching enough, she knew they needed to get home, or she was going to be in serious pain before she got to the pump.
When she and Adam got back into their car, despite her aching chest, she felt more relaxed than she had in days. Knowing they didn’t have to rush home, that she didn’t have to feel like a bad mom for keeping her baby waiting or a bad daughter for coming home so late when her mom was babysitting…
She could go home and relax.
It felt… really good—despite the lingering guilt about feeling free because she didn’t have to take care of her baby tonight. That’s normal. You also miss her. You’re fine.
Taking a whole night off didn’t make her a bad mom. And it really had made such a difference. She hadn’t realized until tonight how much she needed a whole night off, including after they got home. Sure, her boobs still needed to be pumped, but she was going to get to sleep. No constantly worrying the baby might need her, and she wouldn’t hear the call. No waking up because Melody wanted to eat early or getting up at the crack of dawn for Melody’s first feeding.
Adam’s hand wrapped around hers as he pulled out of the parking lot.
“Did you have a good time?”
“So good.” She smiled, squeezing his fingers. “My boobs are killing me, though.”
He laughed as she’d intended him to.
“Let’s get you home, sweetheart.”
Home. It sounded good, yet she was so sad the night was already over.
