Page 54 of The Surrender

“I’m sorry,” Charley cries. “I don’t know what’s got into me today.”

“She’s been stabby all day,” Lloyd mumbles, as if backing up his wife. “Jude’s not the only one who’s copped it.”

“I’m sorry for throwing the washing basket at you,” she whimpers, bursting into tears as she turns to Lloyd. “I’m really sorry.”

“I’m over it,” he says, pulling her into his side. “But you’ve got some making up to do with Jude.”

I stand. “I’m going to check up on him.” But I sit straight back down when I spot someone. “Oh fuck.”

“What?” everyone says in unison.

“Nick’s over there.”

“Oh fuck,” Abbie parrots, searching around for him. “Oh, fuck, fuck fuck.”

“Just say hi, smile, and let him be on his way,” Lloyd says.

“He doesn’t know about Jude,” Charley hisses.

“Oh shit.” Lloyd once again shrinks in his chair, but now for an entirely different reason.

“He knew I was seeing someone. Then my dad kindly told him I wasn’t.”

“And he’s not been updated on your relationship status?” Lloyd looks past me, worried.

“No. And I seriously don’t want to deliver that blow right now in front of everyone.” I know I’ve got to tell him eventually, but not now. It would be cruel.

“And Jude’s mega passive-aggressive possessive,” Abbie says, adding to my stress. It will not go well if Jude and Nick meet.

“Anyone would think he’s got a bloody tracker on me,” I mutter, ducking.

“Oh fuck,” Lloyd breathes, the words stretched out and guilty, prompting Charley to look his way.

“What did you do?” she asks.

“I didn’t know he didn’t know!” Lloyd exclaims.

I recoil. “Wait, you told him about Jude?”

“No, I told him Charley and I were meeting you here for dinner tonight.”

“What?” I blurt, my eyes split between Nick and Lloyd, who’s getting smaller and smaller on his chair. “Why the hell would you do that?”

“Yeah, why the hell would you do that, Lloyd?”

“I was on the spot.” He’s suddenly scowling. “I ran into him outside the Tube station, and it was strained. I’ve got nothing to say to the guy, but he just hung around like a bad fucking smell, asked how you were, and because I had fuck all to say to him, I told him we were seeing you tonight.”

“You prat.” Charley smacks his bicep.

“Idiot.” Abbie throws an olive at Lloyd’s forehead, and it hits accurately, bouncing off.

“You told him even though you knew you were meeting meandJude?” I ask in disbelief.

“Like I said, I was talking for the sake of it.”

“He’s seen you,” Charley says. “He’s coming over.”

I send a mental prayer to the gods to keep Jude in the men’s for a while longer, hope and pray it takes him time to cool his temper before he walks out and finds something else to explode over. “If Jude comes out before I can get rid of Nick, you can deal with the hurricane.” I quickly pull Jude’s untouched dinner my way and push my empty plate back.