Alex and I both agree that we will not make a big deal out of this. But our friends and family seem to have other ideas. His mates – including Ed, whom I actually really, really like, which is just as well, because he’s always popping over for post-work drinks – drag him out for a meal the night before we tie the knot. My friends do the same for me, but, when we end up at the same tacky eighties club night where Alex and I met, I stamp my heels on the pavement.

‘No way. No frigging way. I am not having my hen night here.’

Polly looks affronted. ‘What’s wrong with this place?’

Whoops… I never did tell her I wasn’t a fan.

‘Just a couple of shots, I promise,’ Bridget says. ‘For old times’ sake. It’s where you met!’ she urges, shaking my upper arms.

I dither. ‘Okay, but just two shots,’ I agree.

‘And a bit of a boogie,’ Rachel chips in.

I narrow my eyes at her. ‘Okay, maybe one or two.’

Luckily I’m already tipsy after all of the Prosecco at dinner.

The joint is just as bad as I remembered, but, damn, I feel full of affection for it. I look around, drinking in the cheesy eighties outfits as we walk down the stairs. Bridget takes me straight to the bar, putting her arm around my shoulders as we wait for the bartender to line up our shots. She looks over towards the pillar.

‘That’s where you met,’ she says in my ear, letting me go and stepping back.

I feel a sudden wave of emotion. I remember looking over at Alex and him giving me this sweet, helpless little shrug. He didn’t want to be here, any more than me, yet somehow we ended up being the last to leave.

Familiar hands encircle my waist and I spin in his arms, unable to believe what I’m seeing. Alex smiles down at me as our friends whoop and cheer.

‘Did you know they were doing this?’ I’m amazed.

He shakes his head, his eyes sparkling with amusement. ‘It took quite a lot for them to drag me in here.’

‘Me too!’ We start laughing and don’t stop until our eyes are wet with tears, and then our friends are passing out shots and we’re knocking them back, the alcohol going straight to our heads.

‘Red, Red Wine’ by UB40 comes on. Alex and I look at each other, incredulous.

This was the song we sexy-danced to, all those years ago. He doesn’t say a word as he leads me across the lit-up dance floor and takes me in his arms.