Ghost Of You (Michael Berzatto X Black!OC X Eventual Richie Jerimovich)

26. Two divorces

2020-Chicago, Illinois

Angie sipped her cocktail while Tiff threw back another shot. The blonde coughed at the burning sensation before sighing with relief.

"I needed this."

"Clearly."

"To divorces!" She raised her glass.

"I'm not divorced." Angie chuckled, tapping her drink against her friend's.

"Almost."

"Not almost. We're just separated."

"But you're gonna go through with the divorce, right?"

"I don't know. I thought about it."

"But?"

"But, he seems to be doing better. I mean, he's been sober for like six months."

"He's been sober for six months before. Who's to say that he won't relapse again just like before?"

"He's seeing a therapist, Tiff."

"He's been to therapy before too."

"He won't even take the antidepressants he was prescribed 'cause he doesn't wanna relapse."

"Angie, I love Michael, I really do. But I know how he's hurt you, and I don't want you feeling like that again."

"I know."

"I'm sure he is doing better. But if it were me, I wouldn't jump right back into things with him so soon."

"Yeah." She sighed. "You're probably right."

"I'm just looking out for you, sweetheart."

"I know you are." She grabbed Tiffany's hand. "I appreciate it."

"So, you got your eye on anyone else?"

"God, no. I'm still married."

"Technically." She rolled her eyes. "There's no one that you'd consider getting back into the dating game for?"

"Well..." She hesitated. "There's this guy I work with."

"You've been holding out on me."

"It's not a big deal. He just sits a few desks away and he brings me coffee sometimes."

"You should ask him out."

"No." She chuckled, sipping her drink. "Dating is the last thing on my mind right now. I'm just tryna put all my energy into taking care of Soph right now."

"I totally get it. How's she adjusting?"

"She's kinda upset about it. She doesn't like only seeing her dad on the weekends. But, she's getting used to it."

"That's good."

"What about Eva?"

"She doesn't get it. It's all going over her head."

"Maybe that's a good thing."

"Yeah. Maybe."

"What about you? Any guy you're seeing?"

"I wouldn't exactly say I'm seeing him. But, you know Frank?"

"Frank? Frank....oh, Frank! Girl, he's hot!"

"I know." She grinned.

"This is nice." Angie laughed. "I haven't felt this relaxed in a while."

"Well, I'm glad I could help."

🤍

"Hey." Mikey opened the door. He let her inside to shield her from the chill of the December night. "How was your dinner with Tiff?"

"It was good, thanks. Is she all packed?"

"Yeah. Soph, come on down!"

The little girl came down the stairs bag in hand. She waved to her mother and hugged her father goodbye.

"You have fun?"

"Yeah."

"I gotta talk to your mom for a second. Why don't you go in the car, princess?"

"Okay." She hugged him once again before heading outside.

"Everything okay?" Angie asked.

"Yeah. What, I can't talk to you now?"

"What do you wanna talk about?"

"I miss you." He smirked.

"You miss me?"

"'Course I do. You miss me?"

"Of course."

"Then let me come home."

She sighed and looked down at her feet. "Listen, I don't wanna get your hopes up. I don't know if I'm ready."

"We could take it slow. We could have dinner together once a week like a family."

"But that's not exactly what we are anymore, is it?"

"We could be that again." He reached over and grabbed her hands. "I wanna be that again."

"I...Michael, I don't know."

"It's okay. You don't have to have an answer right now." He wrapped his arms around her and softly kissed her forehead. "Just think about it."

She sighed and let her body fall limp against his. Mikey softly rubbed her back with his thumb as she looked up at him.

"I'll think about it."