“She drives me crazy. She’s so thorny sometimes.”

“You’ve never given a f**k about what any of them thought before now. Not in more than a gentlemanly fashion. This is different. You need to be challenged because your fallback is pretty boy with too-amiable arm candy. She doesn’t let you get away with anything. She’s a fierce bitch.”

He grinned. “She’s hot. God, she makes me cranky and pissed off and two minutes later, in the middle of some argument, suddenly all I want is to jump on her. I’ve never ever had this insatiable need for a woman the way I do her. It’s like I can never get enough of her.”

Erin snorted. “Listen, having insane chemistry is a wonderful thing. It’s what keeps you going when times get hard. You respect each other, which is obvious, although you have a learning curve with the parenting thing. She seems like such a perfect parent, I really should get tips from her.”

“The thing is, she gives me great advice when I ask for it and sometimes when I don’t.” He sighed. “She is good at it and they have such a beautiful relationship. I felt threatened by that for a while, but shit, now I just look at them and know they’re mine. So we can argue but it’s over stuff we’re actually not disagreeing on, it’s the manner in which things happen that we get hung up on.”

“How does Blue react when you two bicker? He seems sort of amused by it.”

“He is. Kid gives me advice on how to deal with his mum. Which sort of brings us closer too. It’s all scary. I worry I will f**k him up. I mean, what are the odds this thing between Gillian and I will work out in the long term?”

“Are you shitting me, Adrian? Puhleeze. You two are stamped all over each other. Neither of you is the type to make allegiances easily. You’re already together and neither of you makes idle promises.

“I’m probably the last person to take love advice from, but I can tell you that just because it’s not mainstream or the way others do it doesn’t mean it isn’t real or it can’t be done. It can. You two are like Brody and Elise, different as hell on the outside, but I honestly can’t think of a woman who’d be better for you. She’s musical like you. She raises your son like she’d kill anyone who tried to harm him. She loves you, Adrian, without falling prey to the bullshit you have to live with to make your music. You have something extraordinary with her and Miles. Chances like this one are rare and in my totally not humble opinion, you’re a f**king dipshit if you don’t take it.”

“Sheesh, I was beginning to wonder if you were a figment of my imagination.” Mary smiled up at Gillian as she came through Mary’s front door. It had been at least two months since she’d come to dinner there, and though they’d seen each other several times, it wasn’t the same as sitting down and having dinner with them.

“I’m sorry. I know I’ve been scarce. Would it help if I told you I’ve missed you?”

Mary hugged her. “Yes, it would, because I’ve missed you like crazy. Come on through, everyone’s here. Where’s the young lad?”

“He’s spending the night at his dad’s house. Alone for the first time.” She took a breath. It would be fine. Adrian was a good man and a good father. Miles would be fine. It wasn’t like he hadn’t spent the night at friends’ houses before, and this was his father, for goodness’ sake.

“I can see that argument you’re having right on your face, baby. Come through and Cal will fix you up with a cocktail.” Mary linked her arm with Gillian’s and drew her into the house.

“Look what the cat dragged in!” Jules came over and hugged Gillian.

She smiled, looking at the gathering of the people she thought of as family. Cal waved from his place at the bar. Ryan sat at the gigantic farmhouse table that dominated Mary’s dining room, already playing cards with Daisy.

Gillian dropped a kiss on Ryan’s cheek and squeezed Daisy’s hand on her way to Cal, who already held out a lovely, pale green drink in a champagne glass.

“Death in the Afternoon. Absinthe and champagne,” Cal explained of the drink. She sipped. Lovely and sure to make her tipsy. A good combination.

“Oh, nicely done, Calvin.”

Cal kissed her cheek. “He’s going to be fine. Adrian is a decent guy.”

She laughed. “I know I’m transparent. They wanted me to go too but I think they need some time alone and I suppose I could use some as well.” She shook her head, turning back to Mary, who bustled about her kitchen, totally in her element. “What’s on the menu tonight?”

“Tandoori chicken, scallion pancakes, veggie pakoras, rice of course, curried, roasted cauliflower. Jules brought some new chocolate thingy that looks ridiculously awesome.”

“Sit down. Tell us about your life of late.” Daisy patted a place on the long bench next to where she sat.

“Here.” Mary put a platter down on the table heaping with pakoras. “Munch and chat. I’m going to see how these work out for the New Year’s Eve dinner that I will tell you right now if you do not attend I will be super pissy about.” She sent Gillian a look.

“I promise. I’ve spoken with Adrian about it already so he’s in as well. Speaking of that, we’re still on for Sunday right?” Sunday was the day they’d chosen to do a gathering of all the friends and family. Mary had insisted on hosting it and making a huge feast.