It was pointless pushing. She’d always been strong-willed and the fact that she was going to tell me all about it tomorrow was going to have to be enough. If I pushed too hard, she might clam up completely and I didn’t want to risk that. I needed to know because I was already imagining the worst-case scenario.

A day at the races wasn’t something I’d done before but, when Leah and Tiff had discovered that it was York Races the weekend of my birthday, they’d got all excited about it and begged me to go. I wasn’t sure about the betting aspect but I certainly liked the sound of getting all glammed up and drinking prosecco. When I’d mentioned it to Mum, she’d insisted on travelling in style and booked a stretch limo.

With no spare bedrooms at Mum’s – her fourth bedroom being her workshop – Leah, Tiff and Drew had booked into a B&B in Whitsborough Bay so, after dropping Logan and Eden off for sleepovers with different friends, Karen picked my flatmates up and drove them over to Bear’s Pad with her mum.

‘Don’t we all look a-may-zing!’ Drew announced as we gathered on the deck for a quick drink before the limo arrived. We’d agreed to go for it with posh dresses and hats.

My stomach did a backflip at the sight of Scott in his dark two-piece suit. There’s something about a man in a sharp suit and tie that absolutely does it for me. And I think that my outfit did it for him too judging by the twinkle in his eyes.

‘I want to give you a hug but I don’t want to rumple your dress,’ he whispered, lightly kissing me on the cheek and lingering for a stomach-fizzing moment. ‘Actually, I want to give you more than a hug. You look exceptional.’

‘Thank you. So do you.’ I leaned in for a kiss.

‘Ew! Put him down,’ Karen called.

Scott’s phone rang a few minutes later. He rolled his eyes and excused himself, stepping into the kitchen diner. I sipped on my drink and asked Drew to explain how betting worked again. I swear my brain switched off every time he tried to explain the difference between win, place and each-way.

When Scott stepped out onto the deck five minutes later, I could tell from his expression that he was the bearer of bad news.

‘I’m going to have to take the car,’ he said. ‘Sorry.’

My fingers tightened round my glass. ‘Why?’

‘That was my colleague, Adam. He’s at a show in Sheffield. His wife’s pregnant with twins and she’s not well. Her sister’s gone round to sit with her, but he might have to go home.’