Looking forward to it. And we’re gonna talk on 3 July? x

The third of July was Yara’s anniversary.

Thank you, I’d really appreciate that x

Of course. No bother. Talk to you then. Hope you have a good day today. L x

You too x

It looked like the ‘x’ was definitely bedded in. And it was…nice? Friendly? Yes, friendly.

Because we were going to be friends.

*

That Monday passed without me crashing and burning. Tuesday, same. Then Wednesday. And so on, until it was Saturday morning, a week since Mum’s party and—as part of Operation Rally-Round—Claire was marching up and down outside my house. We had a hike planned but I was distracted by her gym gear, which gave off a sheen of extreme costliness.

‘How on earth’—I checked her out—‘can plain black Lycra look stomach-turningly expensive?’

‘Dunno.’ She wasn’t interested. ‘Have you heard from Quin?’

‘No.’

‘Luke?’

‘Nothing since the text last Monday. And there won’t be, until I send those photos.’

‘C’mon, let’s get moving. Need to keep my heart rate up. My Fitbit gives me an electric shock every time it falls below a hundred beats per minute.’

‘What? Seriously?’

‘No. But it’s actually a good idea. An electric shock would be a great oul’ motivator.’

‘Claire…’

Crunchie barked and tried to escape out the front door.

‘No!’ Claire said. ‘That dog is not to come. I need to stride. That shortarse just wriggles on her belly.’

I persuaded my little doggie back inside and Claire and I set off.

‘Give me an update on your crash-and-burn status,’ she said.

‘No sign of it yet—’

‘—but it will. You’re still high on Costello man-lurve.’

‘I’m very sad about Quin, though. It’s difficult for him, he’s not used to rejection. He’s more vulnerable than you’d guess.’

‘Are you angry about him and Golden?’

‘More…hurt. Not really surprised, though. It’s Quin, it’s how he rolls.’

‘I’d say he’ll “reach out” to you.’

I shook my head. ‘He’s all bravado. Not going to happen.’

‘But…’ Claire was thoughtful. ‘…because of that self-same bravado, I could see him swaggering in and declaring, “Giddy up, girlie, your luck just changed, I’m taking you back.” Right?’

‘Maybe.’ On balance though, I reckoned he’d stay gone.

‘Would you get back with him? If he did that?’

‘I don’t…know. Not “in this moment”. I’m not sure of anything. It all needs to settle.’

‘Because you still love Luke?’

‘…not. I don’t. No.’

‘You don’t sound very sure.’

‘Claire. That night with Luke, it was…amazing.’ To put it mildly. ‘But I’ve no idea what he’s like now, not really. He could be a Trump supporter—’

‘Rachel!’ she hissed.