Page 49 of In This Together

Her times with Tommy had always been good, but this was… different. Slower, deeper, a smooth ride to heaven.

Afterwards, Tommy collapsed against her chest until their breathing calmed. ‘Stay?’

She nodded in response, knowing he couldn’t hear her answer but that he somehow knew it was yes.

Sometime later, they took the bottle of Macallan to the satin sheets of his bedroom and made love again, and again.

* * *

She had fallen into a sated sleep and woken under the weight of Tommy’s arm, with a head that felt like it was made of concrete and a throat so dry it felt like someone had taken a razor blade to it.

What had she been thinking?Nothing beyond needing to be taken out of her head, out of her thoughts of Hunter, for one night. Tommy had been a gentleman last night, but the saying went ‘a leopard can’t change its spots’, didn’t it?

Tommy had been the perfect hook-up. Now what she needed was a cab, an aspirin and a long black coffee.

She slipped out of his bed and found her clothes in the lounge. She hushed the dog with a finger across her lips as she tiptoed past it, carrying her shoes. Unhooking her coat, she snuck out of the door and back out of Tommy’s life. This time, it would be for good. He’d talked about change; well, it was about time she made some changes too. No more promiscuous Andi. No more sex until she meant it. No more of the stuff that had her head in turmoil. Just no more.

At least not until she got her shit together.

13

ROSALIE

Ordinarily, Rosalie would have grumbled about the trek to Williamsburg for brunch – which was admittedly more like a short drive – but it was a working day, which meant the other ladies were stationed there and, more importantly, she had made a brunch reservation at Meadow Sweet. She would take a cab any distance for their Venetian Spritz and ricotta toast. Plus, the girls hadn’t been together since the night of Presley John’s memorial concert, which was almost four weeks ago.

She arrived first, was greeted by the staff, who knew of her love of the Venetian Spritz and brought one to the table within minutes. Meadow Sweet was like the seventies meets modern NYC. The flooring had the sort of distorted geometric pattern her grandmother’s rug had in photos she’d seen of her mother as a teenager. The yellow and green hues were reminiscent of the period. The wood tables and bar, the tan leather upholstery and the exposed beams all vibedThat ’70s Show.But the stools at the bar, where guests could sit to drink or dine, said modern Manhattan. The food was quirky and had the finest flavours – who didn’t love truffle? Modern art decorated the walls and there was a cute mezzanine level with live plants – a nod to the anti-chemicals, pro-vegan trend. Or perhaps it was a nod to flower power and the revolution.

Regardless, the restaurant played to her bent for interior design, love of delicious cocktails and scrumptious food. Plus, she would have to stop with such treats if she got pregnant – there were more foods on the list of things expectant mothers shouldn’t eat than those they should, and all her favourites: shellfish, nuts, carpaccio, ceviche, soft cheese (occasionally). And if she had her way, her pregnancy would happen soon… just as soon as the Swans agency matched her to the right male counterpart, whose sperm would greet her egg with the respect it deserved and produce the idyllic offspring – long dark ringlets, brown eyes and a fine set of teeth (optional but preferred).

She sipped her drink as she waited for Hannah and Andrea to join her. In general, it was good to be fashionably late, but these were her working friends who couldn’t spare an extra fifteen minutes if she made them wait and, in any event, with these ladies, Rosalie didn’t need the pretence.

Rosalie stood when they arrived and pulled out the shopping bags she had tucked under the table. ‘You’re here. Hey! These are for you, Hannah,’ she said, handing over two bags that were bursting at the seams with faux fur, metallic pink, pink suede, very tightly curled shaggy wool and sequined cushions. ‘I thought they would look incredible on that old grey love seat in your lounge. They’ll totally brighten the space and the grey-pink combo is veryinthis season.

‘Andi, this is for you… You can open it later but it’s a little silk something for you to enjoy with your secret.’ She finished with a wink that made Andrea frown with confusion, but Rosalie had heard many things, the latest of which was that her friend was currently enjoying a fling with an old flame.

Once all three of them were seated – Hannah on the black leather cushioned seat with Rosalie; Andrea in a chair opposite – Rosalie waved over the staff, who brought her pre-ordered bottle of champagne (from the Champagne region of France,naturellement).

‘Fizz?’ Hannah asked with one raised eyebrow.

Rosalie slipped a hand onto Hannah’s leg and said, ‘My treat. It’s been four weeks since we were all together at Madison Square Gardens already and we have so much to celebrate.’

‘We do?’ Hannah and Andrea asked in unison.

Rosalie would tease out the reason for theirmisèresoon enough but for now, she said, ‘Yes, we do! Seth Young is taking the world by storm, thanks to my little moment of ingenuity at the Presley John concert. I’ve heard that song he played at least three times on the radio. Calvin Richards really did me a good turn. All of this means that when I go to Sanfia Records today, Sofia is bound to agree to continuing to teach me the ropes.’

‘He certainly has the right connections and backstory for a winning formula,’ Andrea said. ‘I mean, an ex-serviceman always tugs on the heartstrings – especially some of those YouTube videos I’ve seen of him in barracks with his troop. But the fact he’s also Randy Jonson’s brother. Sheesh, he’s just a goldmine waiting to be extracted.’

‘You’re not thinking of poaching him for XM now, Andi, are you?’ Rosalie teased.

Straight-faced, Andrea told her, ‘I know you think I have an iron heart but I wouldn’t do that to my sister. You and I both know that his success is great, but the big labels will be swooping in if he continues to hit the billboard charts. They’re likely already looking into the guy who made his debut appearance on stage withRandy Jonson at Presley John’s remembrance concert. Sanfia Records doesn’t have the clout or money to keep someone like that.’

‘Okay, well, nice attempt to kill the merriment there. Back to celebrations. Andi, a little dickie-bird tells me Tommy Dawson is rocking your world again? That gift I gave you might make a little more sense now.’ She finished with a mischievous giggle.

‘Hey! How did?—’

Rosalie waved off the objections. Sometimes Andrea could be such a prude. They could talk about her bed being a-rockin’ once the champagne had limbered her up. ‘Hannah’s turn now,’ she continued, cutting Andrea off. ‘Hasn’t Rod started a new job?’

‘Huh, well, yes, but?—’

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