Total pages in book: 117
Estimated words: 113584 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 568(@200wpm)___ 454(@250wpm)___ 379(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 113584 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 568(@200wpm)___ 454(@250wpm)___ 379(@300wpm)
“Jude Harrison.” Jude accepts Lloyd’s hand before turning his eyes onto the girls. “Good to see you again. Sober.” Both the girls smile, but Charley’s is tightest. I fear the worst. They won’t appreciate Jude’s not-so-subtle hint that he rescued them and delivered their drunken arses home, and therefore deserves a break. “And who are these two cuties?”
I laugh under my breath, and Jude looks back at me in interest. “Sorry,” I murmur.
“This is Elijah and Ena,” Lloyd says when Charley doesn’t speak up.
“Aunty Melia!” Elijah bounces in his booster chair, while Ena smacks the table of her high chair with a cup.
“Hey, you.” I lower to the seat Jude pulls out for me and help myself to the bottle of wine in the middle.
“What the hell happened to your hand?” Charley takes it, checking the dressing, reminding me that I’ve not seen her since the wedding.
“She had an argument with a glass,” Abbie pipes up as I reclaim my hand, catching Jude’s fleeting guilty look.
“Wine?” I ask him, as he pulls the knees of his trousers up and sits. Taking the bottle from me, he proceeds to pour for everyone, me first, him last. “Thank you.” I look at the girls expectantly, and both tilt their glasses a little in a half-hearted thanks too.
“Thanks, mate,” Lloyd says. I don’t miss the look his wife throws him. Disapproval. This is going to be tougher than I thought.
“So, what’s everyone having?” I pluck a menu out of the stand on the table and start scanning the options.
“No light conversation before we order?” Charley says, straight in, no foreplay. She smiles, it’s fake, and plucks a menu out too.
“As long as it is light.” I smile sweetly at her before turning it onto the server when she lands by the side of the table. “Hi.”
“Good evening.” She smiles at everyone in turn. “Can I check if anyone has any allergies?”
“Nuts.” Jude points to me. “Amelia’s allergic to nuts. Severely allergic.”
“Thank you.” I cast him a sideways smile. “I’ll take the lamb kebabs with yoghurt and mint dressing.”
“Are there any nuts in that?” Jude asks.
“No, sir, no nuts.”
“And there’s no chance of contamination, is there?”
“Not at all, sir.”
“Good.” He returns to browsing the options, satisfied.
“I assume the yoghurt and mint dressing is cool,” I say, popping the menu back.
“Yes, very cool.”
“Great. It’ll match my friend’s mood.”
Jude coughs, Abbie chuckles, and Charley glares at me. I lose myself in more wine and turn my attention onto Ena while everyone else orders, hoping the atmosphere improves.
“So tell me about Arlington Hall,” Lloyd says.
“It’s dead posh,” Abbie pipes in. “You wouldn’t fit in.”
“Fuck off,” he retorts, prompting Charley to slap her hands over Elijah’s ears.
“You’re welcome anytime,” Jude says around his smile.
“And me?” Abbie asks. “Got any special offers on spa days coming up?”
I turn a tired look her way, and Jude shifts on his chair, uncomfortable.
“Abbie,” I warn. She’s not being as cold as Charley, more sarcastic, but still. Is it really necessary?
“It’s fine.” Jude’s hand lands on my knee under the table and squeezes. “The spa’s free for you to use anytime, Abbie.” He looks at Charley. “And you too, of course.”
“Anyone would think you’re trying to buy our approval.”
“No, just being friendly.” Jude turns to Elijah. I don’t blame him. The kids are blissfully oblivious to the lingering tension and far more receptible to Jude’s graciousness. Jude picks up the dinosaur off the table, checking it out. “T. rex, huh?”
“Rahhhhhhh,” Elijah roars.
“Ooohhh, I’m scared,” Jude breathes, dropping the dinosaur on the table and backing off.
“You should be.” I give Lloyd eyes to suggest I need him to carry this conversation.
The panic on his face is endearing. “So do your parents live in Oxfordshire too?” he blurts.
My jaw becomes lax, and both Abbie and Charley shrink. They know Jude’s lost his parents. Lloyd doesn’t, because why would Charley think to mention that? Oh God. My poor man is getting all the heat from all directions.
“I lost my mum a few years ago,” Jude says. I see the struggle on him. And, again, no mention of his father.
“Oh, I’m sorry to hear that.” Lloyd loses himself in his wine.
For God’s sake, someone change the subject. “Lloyd’s in cybersecurity!” I exclaim. Then I frown. “I think.”
He blinks in surprise. “I always thought you were being polite whenever you asked how my day went.”
I shrug. “I was. Wouldn’t want you to feel left out when the girls are together.”
“I’m happy to be left out, for the record.”
Jude chuckles. “Do you play any sport?” he asks, going in safe.
“Well.” Lloyd comes closer, leaning across the table. “I should have gone pro at rugby, but my ACL let me down.”
“Oh, Jude’s brother plays rugby,” I declare, sounding almost proud. I’m not, I’m excited. Jude and Lloyd may share some common ground, and I would love that. Lloyd never jelled with Nick—they just tolerated each other for the sake of me and Charley.