Page 90 of Alfie: Part One

“No…?” he chuckled. “I’m trying this new thing where I’m nice and call with an update instead of text you a brief summary.”

Oh.

I felt my shoulders slump, and I watched condensation form on my beer glass. “That’s…kind of you. I take it drop-off went well.”

“Aye, Mom’s got the whole evening planned out for them,” Alfie replied. It sounded like he was in the car. “She’s still giving me the cold shoulder, though. She’s convinced I’ve made a deal with the devil.”

I huffed. “She’s not wrong.”

It hit me that I probably shouldn’t say anything else on the matter. Because what if someone was listening? My God. I had to worry about that now?

“Anyway.” Alfie cleared his throat. “It was pointed out to me that family’s invited tonight. And I know we’re not technically family as exes, but, uh… You know. Might, uh…make it easier for you if you meet some of them?”

Wait, what? Some of them, as in…the O’Sheas?

“You’re inviting me to the pub night?” I questioned.

“Yeah. It was just an idea. You don’t gotta come—but Emilia will be there. Kellan and his husband. Everyone.”

Everyone.

A low, rushing sound invaded my ears, and I didn’t know what to think or say. I wanted to go; I didn’t want to be stuck on the outside of his life and spend all my time trying to get a glimpse of what was going on inside. I also wanted to say absolutely not; I was not going to have a beer or two with the fucking mafia.

I’d kind of met Kellan once before, though I wasn’t sure he remembered it. He’d been on the phone the whole time. Alfie had forgotten his wallet at home, so we’d met up before I’d hurried to a meeting. The entire exchange had lasted maybe a minute, but it’d made me wonder why Alfie had never invited Kellan and his husband over for dinner. The only friends Alfie had shown interest in me getting to know were his cousins.

“What time?” I heard myself ask. “Perhaps I can make sure you don’t let Colby get drunk.”

He laughed, and I smiled at the sound.

It was such a kick in the head to constantly be dragged in two opposite directions. When he made me smile, it hurt because I missed the days those smiles could make everything better. When he pissed me off, I felt a sense of relief because I had to work less hard to resist him in that very moment.

“The doors open at nine,” he said. “It’s a private event, so I’ll put your name on the list if you wanna come.”

“Does that make me a VIP?”

“More like UP for unknown person, because security will recognize everybody else.”

“Thanks for making me feel special,” I replied.

He chuckled. “Do you need an ego boost, papi? Just say the word.”

Papi.

My smile suddenly weighed a ton and fell from my face. It was a punch in the gut to hear him call me that after so long.

“My bad,” he said. “I didn’t mean?—”

“It’s fine. I, uh…” I caught movement next to me, and I leaned back to see the server arriving with my food. “Some memories are still too fresh, I suppose.”

What I wanted to say was wounds. Some wounds were still too fresh.

Alfie mumbled something I didn’t catch as I nodded and smiled politely in thanks, and Chrissy walked off again.

“Add my name to the list,” I said, unwrapping my utensils. The steak they served here was one of the best in the area. I always ordered it with their red wine reduction and roasted vegetables. “I’m far too curious to resist.”

“I thought it was to keep track of Colby,” he teased.

I chuckled. “That too. I will do my utmost to steer him in another direction. Away from pubs and…such.”