“So?” prompts Lily. “The sex?”

Mags flops onto the couch next to me and I sag with relief as the conversation moves on to safer ground.

“It’s better than anything you boring heterosexuals will ever experience. Even you, Lily.”

Mags has only been openly gay for three months. For the thirty-three years prior she’s been a boring heterosexual like the rest of us. Outwardly at least. It’s good to know I’m not the only one in our group who’s been hiding who they really are.

“I might just have to take your word on that,” says Lily.

“Speaking of sex, Lils, how’s it going shacked up with lover boy?” Mags asks, taking a huge gulp of her wine.

I’ve never seen Mags so radiant. She deserves to be happy, but I worry this woman Mags is currently hung up on will break her heart. I’ve always found my friend’s utter faith and trust in people alarming.

Lily makes a face. “Terrible.”

“Why?” Em asks.

“He irons his bloody underwear,” she murmurs, slouching lower in her chair.

“He what?” Mags yells, with a huge grin “That’s appalling!”

“Disgraceful,” Em says.

“Unforgivable,” I add, smiling despite myself.

My friends can always make me feel better. Their friendship is more precious than they’ll ever know.

“Yesterday, I got home late from work and he’d not only cooked a proper meal, but he’d also left mine in the oven to keep warm,” says Lily.

“Outrageous.” Em’s face is one of mock horror. “What did he cook?”

Lily scowls. “You’d have loved it. There was salmon with some kind of fancy stuff on the skin, and that dish with thin layers of potato”

“Dauphinoise,” says Emma.

“No, that stuff you get in fancy pubs… You know, with the creamy sauce.”

“Gratin.”

Lily points her finger at Mags. “That’s it. A bloody potato gratin.”

I raise my eyebrows at Emma. “Or, as the French would say, dauphinoise.”

“All right, you two with your fancy food terms. I bet you can’t tell me what the vegetable was?”

“Charred broccoli and leeks,” I state.

Lily stares at me. “How did you”

“The recipe was in the pull-out food guide in the paper last weekend.”

Lily drops her head in her hands. “Well that just makes it even worse,” she mutters.