Page 47 of The Surrender

“What about them?”

“About me meeting them.”

I inhale and push some strawberries around the dish, watching them. I’m not looking forward to that. “Let me talk to them.”

“Do they hate me that much?”

“No,” I rush to assure him. “They’re just being protective.” I drop the spoon, losing my appetite for the delicious Eton Mess. I wish I had somehow avoided the girls the night I left Arlington Hall an emotional wreck. “They’ll be fine.” I have to hand it to Jude. At least he’s committed and not avoiding them.

I hear my phone ringing in the distance and get down from the stool. “Do you mind?”

“Not at all.” He takes another huge bite of his sandwich as I leave him, following the sound to the front door, where I find my bag.

I dip in and get my mobile, laughing at the irony when I see who’s calling. I hold up my screen to Jude as I walk back into the kitchen so he can see.

“No time like the present,” he says, taking another huge bite, filling his mouth.

I don’t want Jude to hear this conversation. “I’ll take it in the lounge.”

He nods, unable to speak, and I leave him happily devouring his club sandwich, answering to Abbie as I go. The moment she sees my face, she checks the background, and I wait, flapping my T-shirt as I lower to one of the snuggle chairs. I’m feeling a little hot. Stifled. “Do you want to have dinner?” I ask, hitting things off.

She blinks. “Dinner?”

“You, me, Charley, Lloyd.” I pause a beat. “Jude.”

Her eyes narrow, suspicious. “So he can make us like him again?”

“Do you hate him?”

“Hateis a strong word. I wouldn’t sayhate.”

“Good, because I love him.” This is old news, and Abbie knows it. “And he loves me too, so here we are, Jude and I, in love, and it would be kinda nice if my best friends, whom I also love, got on with the man I love.”

“He’s told you that he loves you?” she asks. I nod, and Abbie blows out her cheeks. “Well, he got more than he bargained for in that bet, didn’t he?”

My shoulders drop. “Can we forget about the bet? Besides, you got a luxury spa day for next to nothing as a result of that bet.” God, I really don’t want to tell them that Katherine is actually Jude’s ex-fiancée.

“Maybe a few more of those spa days might help me on my way to acceptance.”

“You’re a disgrace.”Let’s get this done with.“Jude and Katherine were engaged to be married.”

“Pardon me?”

“You heard.”

Her mouth drops open. “God damn it, I need Charley on this call, but she’s at the in-laws’.”

“It was years ago.”

“But he’s still fucking her?”

“Was, Abbie.” I stand, obviously too fast because I get a complete head rush. So I quickly lower again, shaking the daze away. I sense Abbie thinks I’m being dumb, and I hate that. I also hate the fleeting wonder. Am I? I look back over my shoulder into the kitchen. No. For God’s sake, no, I’m not dumb. “Will you come to dinner with us or not?”

“I’ll call Charley and see when they’re free.”

“Thank you.”

“I can’t wait to be the fifth wheel.” She snorts. “Fuck my life. I take it you’re not coming home tonight.”