Page 76 of The Surrender

“Who for?” Charley asks.

“His mother.”

“Awww,” we both coo.

“He asked me out, I said yes, and here I am.” Abbie shrugs. “Girls, I havegotto get out of this rut. Maybe I just need to accept I’m never going to have that kind of explosive passion again.” Another shrug plus a grimace. “Manage my expectations, you know what I mean?”

We both nod.

“Jude bought me a car.”

Both of my friends go bog-eyed. “A car?” Abbie asks. “What kind of car?”

“One that drives.”

“Dickhead.”

“It’s a Jaguar.” I give them wide eyes too. “And he gave me an engraved pen.”

Abbie swoons. It makes me smile. “What did it say?”

“I’ve got you.”

“Oh my God,” she breathes. “I might faint.”

“As in, you’re his?” Charley asks, frowning. “I’ve. Got. You. Possessive?”

“No,” I say, the word drawn out, sounding like a warning. She better not kick off again. “As in, he’s got me. Holding me. Is there for me.”

“So cute!” Abbie sings.

“He took me to see his parents’ graves earlier. Told me about them. It’s so sad. Jude found his dad. Heart attack.” Both girls jut their bottom lip out. “And his mum died in her sleep. She was perfectly healthy. Jude said it was a broken heart. He found her too.”

“Oh my God,” Charley whispers. “It’s hard to hate someone who found both his parents dead and suffered grief like that.”

I could never hate Jude. “Are we friends again?”

“Yes, we’re friends,” Charley says.

“And in future, will you be nice to my boyfriend?”

“So long as he treats you right.”

“Look, girls.” Abbie flaps an impatient hand at the screen. “I appreciate the update on all things, but my date is going to think I’ve bailed if I don’t get back to the table.”

“What does he look like?” I ask.

“How old?” Charley pipes in.

“Is he tall like his name?”

“What does he do for a living?”

“When can we meet him?”

“Bye!” Abbie hangs up, leaving me and Charley chuckling.

“I’ve got to go too. Ena’s had a sleepy poo, and I need to try and change her without waking her up. Are you around this weekend?”