‘I didn’t know you were back,’ I say to Nathan with a smile, after kissing the birthday boy hello. ‘Is Lucy coming?’

Lucy is Nathan’s wife and we became friendly almost instantly. She and Nathan have been over in the UK for the last few months, working and visiting Lucy’s family. They try to split their time between the two countries.

‘Yeah, as soon as she’s got Finn down,’ Nathan replies, referring to their not-quite-two-year-old son. ‘Jet lag is a bitch for toddlers. His sleep is all over the place.’

‘When did you get back?’

‘Only a few days ago. We’ll have to have you over to ours for a barbie soon.’

‘That would be great.’

We tend to go to theirs more, just because it’s easier with Finn. Plus, they have a really cool old house, just up the hill from here. It was pretty much derelict when they bought it, but now it has modern touches and loads of glass and natural light. Nathan did all of the work on it himself.

I turn to Lachie, pleased to see that he’s wearing the new watch I bought him. ‘How was your day?’

‘Pretty chilled,’ he replies with a warm smile.

‘When are your days not chilled,’ I tease, slipping one arm around his waist. He does the same to me, pulling me against his hip.

‘What do you want to drink?’ he asks.

‘I might get a glass of bubbles.’ I try to flag down the girl behind the bar, but she’s not looking my way.

‘Prosecco?’ he asks, raising an eyebrow.

‘Yes, please.’

He twists away and leans over the counter. The girl looks his way immediately and attends to him within seconds.

This always happens. Not that I’m complaining.

A few more friends arrive, including Fliss, who walks in, laughing, with Elliot.

‘Am I missing something?’ I ask in his ear when he comes over.

He brushes me off. ‘No. She was at her sister’s, so I offered to pick her up on my way from work. I had a meeting with a client this afty in Cremorne.’ That’s a suburb southwest from here, on the way to Sydney. Elliot’s a civil engineer.

‘Cool watch!’ I hear Fliss say to Lachie.

‘Bronnie got it for me,’ Lachie replies, and he’s already smiling at me when I turn to catch his eye.

‘She’s got good taste, your girlfriend.’ Fliss flashes me a smile that doesn’t reach her eyes.

‘Too bloody right, she does,’ Lachie jokes, grabbing my hand and tugging me towards him. He loops his arms around my waist from behind and plants a kiss on my cheek.

‘Aw,’ Fliss says soppily, smiling at us both before calling out to Elliot. ‘Oi, El, are you buying me a drink or what?’ She steps away to join our friend.