Page 98 of Thrill

Deborah grabbed him by the arm with surprising strength and dragged him out into the foyer once again. The staff would think he was the devil himself.

“Take your hands off me,” Tyler said.

Deborah shoved him. “I said you would try and make my wedding all about you if we let yourboyfriendcome.”

Tyler was taken aback by the pure rage on her face. They’d never got on but this was next level.

“Calm down. You’re going to give yourself a heart attack.”

“All anyone is going to be talking about is how my unnatural brother behaved when allowed in polite company.”

Every person has a limit and Deborah had found Tyler’s. “You know what, Deborah,” he said, rearing up, “you should be grateful I’m taking any attention from that fucking revolting dress. Now get out of my way.”

Adrenalin pumping, he had one target in mind as he stormed into the disco. Not one person really bothered with him. So much for Deborah’s paranoia that all eyes wouldn’t be on her.

He found his parents by the bar.

“If you’ve come to blame me and your father, don’t even go there.”

Tyler swallowed. The adrenalin pumped around his system.

“I’m not going to make a scene,” he said, calmly. “I wanted to confirm your bullseye, mother. No matter how accidental.”

“Where is Danny now?” his father asked.

“Long gone probably and it’s all my fault. I was so focused on trying to make him as palatable for you as possible, I ended up hurting him.”

Even his mother seemed lost for words.

“That’s all any of us do in a weird way. Deborah is playing it by the book. Gavin is acting like a tearaway. We all know he’ll marry someone fabulous. Then me. Desperately trying to find a part of me that you can love. What’s the fucking point?”

This time he left the room for good. It wasn’t until he got out into the summer night air that he let the tears flow.

The next morning, Tyler was amazed that he’d slept for five hours. He always thought the idea of a person crying themselves to sleep to be a terrible cliché. Now he knew better.

Still in his shirt and suit trousers from the wedding, he rolled over and grabbed his phone.

He had no messages.

That figured. He’d respected Danny’s wish to leave him alone. The last thing Tyler wanted was another row before a long drive. They could talk things through calmly once they were on the road. These things were always better done in a car. No chance of eye contact.

It was coming up to eight. They would be setting off in an hour. He desperately needed a shower to wash the whole sorry saga off his body.

Tyler padded to the bathroom to set the shower running. Something caught his eye by the door. It was a piece of paper.

Panic seized him. Only one person in this building would slip a note under his door. Unable to contain himself, he snatched itfrom the floor. He dashed over to the bed and fumbled for his glasses before reading the writing on the note.

Tyler

With a shaking hand, he opened the folded paper.

Sorry to do this. I really can’t sit in a car with you for five hours. I’m pissed off and will only take it out on you. I need some time to get my head in order. Please don’t contact me. I’ll be in touch. I promise.

Danny

No kiss.

Tyler read the note again. It wasn’t a final fuck you. That had to count for something.