Page 58 of The Surrender

Rhys chuckles as I smile fondly at Jude in protective-big-brother mode.

“Last night I fired your publicist,” Jude goes on. “Today we hired a new one, and you booked a flight back to Dublin while Casey booked a train to Paris.”

“One more night, chill it.” Rhys muscles him out the way and homes in on me, taking the tops of my arms, scrutinising me. “Well, you’re a surprise.”

“Rhys,” Jude warns.

“What?”

“Put her down.” Jude claims me and pulls me close, putting some keys in my hand. “Go wait for me in the car, it’s just around the corner.” He scowls at Rhys. “I’ve just got to sort out my wayward littlest little brother.”

“I don’t need sorting out. Stop being such a nag. You’ve not even introduced us properly.”

Jude laughs, but it has no humour in it. More nerves. “Amelia, meet Rhys. Rhys, this is Amelia.”

“I’ve heard a lot about you.”

“Oh yeah?” I ask, head tilted. “Like?”

“You’re brilliant, gorgeous, witty, strong, resilient, smart.”

My lips twist, trying not to smile, and Jude rolls his eyes, turning to his brother. “Where are you going now?”

“Meeting someone.”

“Who?”

“You don’t know them.”

“That doesn’t ease me, Rhys,” Jude retorts, getting irritated. “Who is it?”

“A woman, alright? You don’t see me interfering in your relationships.”

“Ship,” Jude says. “Relationship.”

“Will you chill the fuck out?” A surprising flash of anger passes across Rhys’s face. “You’ve been like a bear with a sore head since—”

“Shut up, Rhys,” Jude warns, moving in closer.

“Since Mum died. There you go—I said it. Finally. Are you going to punch me now?” Holding his hands out, Rhys invites the hit, and I nervously glance between the brothers, wondering if Jude will accept his offer. He certainly looks like he wants to, his jaw rolling.

Since their mum died? Not their dad? I’m confused. Jude talks with such fondness about his mother, but when it comes to his father, I see the anger he tries and fails to keep buried. But he’s only been angry since his mum died?

“Rhys.” Jude visibly takes in air, working his temper down. “There’s a supposed sex tape out there just waiting to surface and cause a PR shitstorm for you.”

I blink, surprised at Jude’s one-eighty on the topic of conversation, but Rhys is obviously wary, backing off. “You said you didn’t think it existed.”

“Is there a sex tape?”

Rhys rolls his eyes. “Yeah, there’s a sex tape.”

“Haven’t you risked your career enough?”

“Jesus, alright,Dad.”

Something switches in Jude, every drop of green falling from his eyes, his temper rising again. I step back, cautious.

But not Rhys. So much for backing off. “Look at you,” he says. “One mention of him and you become the Hulk. For fuck’s sake, Jude. He’s dead. No one can bring him back. Just like they can’t bring Mum back. Get on with your life.”