Baby Be Mine

gaze.
    ‘I guess I should go,’ he says to me.
    ‘Please stay,’ I say.
    ‘No, please go,’ Johnny interrupts.
    ‘Hey!’ I warn, crossly, promptly taking Barney from him. ‘Enough of that. Budge over so I can let us in. I didn’t think security would leave you standing out here like this.’
    ‘They didn’t,’ he replies. ‘I needed a smoke.’
    ‘Aah, so you’ve seen inside, have you?’
    ‘I’ve been staring at your lovely walls for three hours,’ he replies sarcastically.
    I tut, but don’t wind him up further.
    I usher Johnny inside.
    ‘Come in,’ I say firmly to Christian. He tentatively follows me over the threshold. ‘I’ll put the kettle on. Tea? Coffee?’
    ‘Tea, please,’ Christian says.
    ‘I’ll come with you,’ Johnny insists, not wanting to be left alone in a room with his one-time best mate. I hand Barney to Christian, and Johnny stares after them as they go into the living room. I lead the way to the kitchen.
    ‘I didn’t know you were seeing him again.’
    ‘He contacted me a couple of months ago,’ I explain.
    ‘Are you seeing him? Seeing seeing him?’ he asks with surprise.
    ‘No, don’t worry,’ I brush him off. ‘He’s got a girlfriend.’
    ‘Why should I be worried?’ he retorts over the noise of the kettle boiling.
    ‘Okay, so you’re not worried,’ I reply with frustration. ‘But I’m glad he’s back in our lives again. I want him to have a relationship with Barney.’
    ‘Does anyone actually care what I want?’ he asks in a low tone.
    I slam the teaspoon I’m holding down on the countertop. ‘No, actually,’ I say angrily. ‘And if you’ve come here to cause any trouble whatsoever you can bugger off. I told you, Johnny, I told you that I didn’t want anything more to do with you until you’d sorted yourself out!’
    ‘Hey!’ He holds his palms up at me and I feel myself calming down. I pick up the teaspoon again and stir sugar into Christian’s tea. Johnny comes and stands next to me. I feel uneasy with him so close, but I carry on stirring and ignore him. ‘Maybe I have sorted myself out,’ he says quietly. I glance up at him, but I have to step away a couple of paces before I can look at him properly.
    ‘Lena said you haven’t touched a drop of booze since January.’
    ‘New Year’s Day,’ he confirms.
    ‘Had a rough time the night before, did you?’ I glance at him, unamused. He shifts on his feet. ‘How is Dana?’
    ‘She’s alright, so I hear.’
    ‘So you hear?’
    ‘We split up.’
    My stomach turns over. ‘Did you? When?’
    ‘After her last stint in rehab.’
    ‘I heard she was back in rehab.’ I can’t believe Lena failed to call me with this new information! How has this not been in the press? I ask the question.
    ‘She’s been back in Montana, recuperating.’ That’s where her parents live. ‘Off the radar.’
    ‘Is it definitely over?’ I hate myself for hoping.
    ‘Definitely.’
    I’m not sure I believe him. She’s surely capable of getting her claws back into him. I try to ignore the jittery feeling inside. I turn and stare at Johnny. ‘Be nice to Christian,’ I command. ‘He’s the injured party in all of this. Remember that.’
    He pushes himself off the wall and starts to follow me. ‘He didn’t look too injured to me when he was prancing about with my son on his shoulders,’ he mutters. He’s jealous, of course.
    ‘You know, you still should apologise.’ I know exactly what response I’m going to get.
    ‘I’m not apologising!’ he snaps. Yep, I was right. ‘You were my girl first, remember.’ My heart skips a beat, but he continues, unaware: ‘If he hadn’t nicked you from me in the first place, I wouldn’t have had to try to get you back.’
    I force a roll of my eyes at him, but it’s disconcerting hearing him speaking as frankly as this. I lead the way back through to the living room.
    ‘How are your book sales coming along?’ I ask Christian.
    He grins. ‘Really well. Really, really well. Better than expected.’
    ‘Oh, Christian, that’s brilliant!’
    ‘I’ve been offered another book deal.’
    ‘Have you?’ I squeal, getting to my feet. He gets to his and we both hug each other happily.
    Christian glances over his shoulder at Johnny, but he’s steadfastly ignoring us. We both sit down again, but I can’t stop beaming. ‘What did your dad say?’ I ask. ‘I bet he’s proud of you.’
    ‘He’s thrilled.’
    I know from a previous conversation