Evie had brought all the ingredients for a dish she said was a surprise, and that she had to cook from fresh so Chloe wedged the various components into her already overloaded fridge.

‘Are you going to celebrate with Hannah?’ asked Evie. ‘Will we get to meet her?’

‘Oh, she’s so busy. I expect we’ll get together sometime.’

‘I’m sure she’d want to celebrate with her mum. You wait, I bet she surprises you with some flowers.’

Chloe smiled. ‘Maybe she will. Can I top up your drink?’

Chloe moved into the kitchen, busying herself with pouring fizz into Evie’s glass when the door buzzed again.

She opened it to find Drew smiling at her and holding a white polystyrene box. Inside there were two dozen scallops nestling on a bed of ice, garnished with lemon chunks.

‘I thought it was a special occasion. You do like scallops?’ he said.

‘Yes, I do. Wow. Thank you.’

‘I bought them from Helford not more than an hour ago. I’ll open them if you like.’

‘Definitely,’ Chloe said, taken aback by the sight of him in a white shirt and trendy waistcoat that brought out the deep blue of his eyes. She had butterflies in her stomach like a teenager as he removed the shellfish from the box, accidentally brushing against her in the small kitchen area.

‘I just need a tea towel and a board, and when we’re ready, I’ll give them a quick pan fry with some lemon and wine. They don’t take long.’

‘Thanks.’ Chloe’s heart sank further. No matter how gorgeous he was, and even if he didn’t have a girlfriend, she’d have no chance with him once he found out her real age.

‘Hello! We’re here!’ Zennor called cheerily from the door.

‘We’ve made vegan pizzas,’ said Ben, following Zennor into the flat. ‘They just need warming up in the oven.’

‘Wow. What a feast,’ Chloe said, pleased to have a distraction from Drew and her deception.

‘Is Gabe here yet?’ Zennor asked.

‘No,’ said Chloe, sensing that the question was loaded.

Zennor gave a small hmmph and Chloe suddenly realised that her party might be the first time Zennor had seen him. If there had been tension between the Lovells and Gabe, it could make for an awkward ‘reunion’. It was going to be an interesting night all round, she thought, steeling herself.

‘Shall I put the pizzas in the fridge for now?’ she asked cheerfully. ‘They smell delicious.’

Sam arrived not long after, with a tin of miniature Cornish berry tarts and two pots of clotted cream. ‘I made these. Hope everyone likes berries.’

Evie squealed in delight. ‘We’ll none of us get out of the door.’