‘Who knows? Six years is a long time. These days he rides horses. He’s more holy than he was. And they’re just the externals. The person he once was, the things I loved—his sunny nature, his openness to life—they might be all gone.’

She was getting it now; I could see it. Perversely, that upset me.

‘He told me several times.’ The words tumbled from my mouth. ‘He said things like, I’m not the man I used to be, and, These days my relationships are different. Like, he told me, Claire.’ My voice had begun to shake.

‘But he seemed the same,’ she said. ‘Dancing with the aunties. Being sweet to everyone.’

Suddenly exasperated, I asked, ‘Claire, why aren’t we talking about Kallie? Luke has a partner! He cheated on her! How “sweet” was that?’

That silenced her. There was no way that could be reconfigured into something acceptable.

‘Do you think he told her?’ she asked. ‘About sleeping with you?’

I nodded.

‘That’s the vibe I’m getting,’ she said. ‘Every few days she posts on the socials about her music—yeah, I spy on her, got your back, babes—but Luke has been back there nearly a week now and she hasn’t posted a single “Me and My Hot Man” shot.’

Yes, I’d been also spying on Kallie. Mostly because it was impossible to spy on Luke—there was still no sign of him on any platform.

However, I hadn’t been spying on Quin. I’d quietly unfollowed him on Instagram. And Golden. Even Shiv. If Quin was with Golden, I’d feel bad, but if he was on his own, I’d also feel bad.

The difference between my interest in Luke and my interest in Quin was fantasy versus reality. Luke was thousands of miles away on another continent. There was almost nothing I could do to influence events. But with Quin, if I got overwhelmed with missing him, or seized by sudden fury about Golden, I could—in theory, anyway—turn up on his doorstep. And I knew enough to know that I knew nothing. Not right now. I had to wait this out.

‘From what you told me,’ Claire said. ‘Kallie’s mad about Luke. They’ll work through it. Soon as she’s back on her feet, the photos will resume.’ Suddenly Claire pivoted. ‘Or maybe she won’t forgive him. Okay, I’m going to say something here—maybe he doesn’t want to be forgiven! Maybe you and he have a future?’

Hotly, I said, ‘Do you really think Luke would break up with Kallie, sell his practice, sell his home, upend his life and relocate to Ireland after one night with me?’

Coolly, Claire raised her eyebrows. The seconds ticked away as her silent appraisal began to feel uncomfortable. ‘Do you?’ she asked. Then, in more urgent tones, ‘Do you, Rachel?’