‘Last time we met,’ he began, ‘I should have said sorry a lot more than I did. I wasn’t thinking straight, a lot of stuff had just happened. I was at an emotional crossroads, and I just took the easiest route. But I’ve spent the last few weeks really examining my life, and I realized that if I didn’t come back here and tell you what you meant to me, I’d never forgive myself.’

‘Right,’ said Tara. ‘So – your not-wife threw you out?’

‘No!’

‘You mean she’s not your wife, or she didn’t throw you out?’

‘I mean …’ Phil pushed the hank of blond hair out of his eyes. ‘You’re confusing me, Tara.’

‘No, I get it. You’ve broken up with the woman who was allergic to the cat you dumped on me.’

‘Yes, but—’

‘And now she’s dumped you, you’re here to see if you can pick up where you left off.’

‘No!’

Tara smiled sadly at him. It was so much easier when you didn’t care. If only she could bottle this feeling and sell it to her unhappy, hanky-shredding clients. ‘Come on, Phil. I do this for a living. Just spit it out.’

Phil stared down at his coffee as if gathering his thoughts. It took a while. When he met Tara’s eyes after a moment or two, the expression on his handsome face was one she hadn’t seen before. He looked uncertain.

‘I knew there wasn’t a way of saying this that wouldn’t make me look like a tosser, Tara. So maybe I’m just a tosser. But the thing is, I’ve missed you so much. I tried to tell myself that I didn’t, but I did. More than that, I missed the person I was when I was with you.’

‘Wow,’ said Tara. ‘Existential.’

He gazed at her, hurt. ‘Don’t make fun of me when I’m trying not to sound like a plum.’

‘Sorry. Go on.’

Phil braced himself. ‘When I was with you, I always tried that bit harder. You are such a great girl, Tara.’

‘Woman.’ Oh, stop it, she told herself. He’s trying.

He didn’t even kick back at it. ‘Such a great woman. You’re strong and you’re smart and you’re bloody gorgeous. Never met a … woman like you before. I guess I was just scared of you finding out what a plum I was, if I let you get too close to who I really am, underneath the chat. I think …’ He swallowed. ‘I think I might actually love—’

‘Don’t say it, Phil.’ Tara held up a finger.