Page 56 of Thrill

“Hi, sis. How’s tricks?”

“I wanted to make sure you had the dress code for the bridal party.”

Tyler closed his eyes. Her tone cut through him like a chainsaw. “I’m handing out programmes. I’m hardly a bridesmaid.”

“I want the whole group to look the same. I’m emailing it over. Please try and not be an arsehole about this.”

Tyler thanked his lucky stars he’d insisted on keeping his time back at home in Wales to an absolute minimum. Already his hackles were rising.

“If you want me to wear a pink tutu, then I will. Whatever you need.”

“I don’t need your sarcastic attitude. Bloody hell, Tyler. This is one day that’s about me. Can you not even give me that?”

He had fallen foul of this routine before. She was calling to let off steam that she didn’t dare aim at Simon or their parents. Nice.

“Deborah, I’m in the middle of something at the moment.”

“What?”

“A date with a gorgeous man.”

“Ugh. I should have guessed.”

“It’s been lovely chatting. I’ll see you very soon.”

“I mean it, Tyler. Follow the dress code.”

“Without fail.”

He finished the call. Danny sprang up and dashed round to Tyler.

“What did she say? You’ve gone sheet white. Come here.”

Once Danny wrapped his arms around Tyler, the standard feelings of rejection and fury that were associated with his sister subsided a little.

“She’s such a bitch,” he said into Danny’s chest.

Danny knelt by him. “You are a kind, wonderful individual. Mind you, I’ve only known you five minutes. There’s plenty of time for sociopathic tendencies to come out.”

They settled down on the blanket again. Danny had his arms wrapped around Tyler. He had never felt so secure in his life.

Tyler closed his eyes and let his thoughts settle.

“Sorry for the meltdown,” he said.

“Hey,” Danny replied, nuzzling Tyler’s hair. “No need for that. She hit you right between the eyes though.”

Tyler watched some birds zooming across the sky. Totally free.

“You can tell me,” Danny continued. “If you like.”

Usually Tyler would move heaven and earth not to talk about his family. Yet, he found he wanted to.

“To give you the summary. My dad is a headmaster and Mum has a café on the seafront. I’m the middle child. My sister Deborah is vile and my younger brother Gavin is wild. But I’m the disappointment. Go figure.”

Danny clutched him tighter. “How can you be a disappointment?” he asked. “You’re textbook golden balls.”

Tyler giggled. “No one has ever called me that before.”