“If you listen very closely,” Pretty said, squinting his eyes as if that would help him hear better. “You can hear a collective sigh of relief from the women of London.”
“Bullshit.” AJ waved his hand. “A collective cry as hearts break everywhere is what you’ll hear. Women love me.”
“I’m honestly so fuckin’ glad.” I patted his shoulder. “You havin’ a missus will be like a dog gettin’ neutered. Ye’ll finally calm the fuck down.”
We all laughed at AJ’s expense, and he did too because he never took anything too seriously. None of us did when it came to insults.
“Irish, when are you coming back from compassionate leave?” Stitch asked me. “We miss your ugly mug.”
“Ugly, ay?” I smirked. “Pretty here told me his wife thinks I’m handsome when I’m all cleaned up . . . And didn’t your wife tell me I looked like a dark-haired Thor before? Will she like my new look?”
“I changed my mind.” Stitch glowered. “Quit. We all hate you here.”
Laughter filled the room once more.
“I have to see a counsellor first, obviously. I’ll be back . . . a couple more weeks, maybe. I can’t get much more than that without riskin’ me job,” I answered honestly. “But Noah needs me right now.”
“Get your missus better and then come back to work,” Pretty suggested. “Life was always safer when you were dating Noah.”
“I disagree,” AJ chimed in. “He was the shittest wingman ever when he was with Noah, but luckily I no longer need a wingman. Did I mention that Dani is my missus now?”
A collective groan echoed throughout the station.
“Is this all we’re gonna hear now?” Texas sighed, running a hand through his black hair. “I’m the only single one left. Jesus. I never thought I’d want a steady girl at twenty-seven, but y’all are makin’ me jealous.”
I didn’t remind him that I was technically still single, because I didn’t want to be. I wanted to be back in a relationship with Noah more than anything. But I had to remember that baby steps were the way to go, even if the slow pace was killing me. Having her in the end would be more than worth it.
“Dani has an Irish cousin who just moved here.” AJ grinned knowingly. “A sexy redhead. You like those, Tex.”
Texas raised his eyebrows. “What’s the catch?”
“She’s crazy, just like Dani, that’s the catch. She has that fiery Irish temper.”
AJ showed Texas a picture of the redhead. I caught sight of it and whistled.
“She’s fine-lookin’.”
“Our kids will be beautiful,” Texas said, earning a laugh and a pat on the back from every man in the room.
“I’ve got you, bro,” AJ said as he tapped on the screen of his phone. “Double date tomorrow night?”
“If she likes the look of me, hell yeah.”
“Mate.” AJ rolled his eyes skywards. “Why d’you think I pitched her to you? Dani already pitched you to her and told me to get us a double date because you’re apparently ‘sex on legs’ and your Southern cowboy accent induces ‘fanny flutters’. That was a direct quote from Dani’s cousin, none of that was improvised on my part. I think you’re ugly and sound like a dumbarse when you speak.”
I shook my head in amusement as they exchanged insults and worked out the details of their upcoming double date. When my phone rang and I saw it was Mr Ainsley, I answered it right away.
“Mr A,” I greeted him. “Everything okay?”
“No,” he sighed. “Anderson was here last night and he had a long talk with Noah. She’s very upset and doesn’t want to speak to us. She wants us to leave, but we’re not going anywhere. She doesn’t want to see you either. I don’t know what the son of a bitch told her but get over here now. She needs you.”
I was already jogging out of the station before I hung up the phone, shouting to my friends that everything was fine when everything was definitely not fucking fine. I jumped in my car with my heart pounding. What did Anderson tell Noah? If he’d told her about Bailey, if he’d told her what should rightfully have come from me, West Norwood Cemetery would need to open a new plot immediately.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
NOAH
“Are you gonna make me call the nurse to ask you both to leave?” I demanded of my parents. “Because I can do just that if you want me to.”
They had been here close to an hour, and they were refusing to leave until I had a proper conversation with them. But I didn’t want to. When I’d awoken early that morning, alone, my conversation with Anderson had replayed over and over in my mind then anger had set in. I’d never liked being kept in the dark about things, but this took the cake.
“Stop being so stubborn, Noah Ainsley.”