Seb isn’t even trying to hide his fascination. He’s leaning back, arms crossed, grinning at me like I’ve just flashed him my tits. I want to kill him with my bare hands. But not until I’ve throttled Elliot first. How can he have changed his tune so fast? One minute he wants nothing to do with me or my baby, the next he’s asking what a cervix is.

I’ve got to stop being so worked up and angry. This isn’t how I act. I don’t let emotions get the better of me. I control them, no matter what.

*

The second the meeting ends, I hightail it to the car, Elliot trotting behind me. I wait, my hands gripping the wheel as he gets in the passenger seat and waves enthusiastically to Becky and Ben.

He turns to me with a wink. “Hot sex and a curry, eh?”

Without a word, I start the car and yank it out onto the road, narrowly missing a van parked in front. Elliot grips the door as I hurtle around a corner.

“I didn’t mean anything by that, Trish. I don’t expect to… I just thought it was funny that curry and sex can induce labour.”

By the tremor in his voice, I think he’s finally picked up on my less-than-happy mood.

“Was I embarrassing?” Elliot asks at last.

Where do I start? Before I can open my mouth, he carries on.

“There’s just so much for me to learn, you know? I need to start catching up.”

“There’s no exam at the end, Elliot,” I say, gritting my teeth. “You’re not going to pass or fail.”

“It’s far bigger than that, Trish.” His voice is filled with awe. “There’s a freakin’ baby.”

When we get back to my place, I say goodbye to Elliot before we’ve even got out of the car. I want to make it clear I’ve no intention of inviting him inside.

He walks to his car slowly, glancing back at me several times as if I might suddenly call out to him, which I definitely won’t. It’s not until his car disappears down the street that I let out my breath.