‘So, who is Joy?’ she finally asked.

Chance tensed. ‘She’s my brother Pete’s ex. When they broke up and he went to Mexico she latched onto me. When her visa ran out I thought she’d go back to Oz but well, now she thinks we’re an item,’ Chance said, embarrassed.

‘Are you?’ Simi asked, baffled by his explanation.

‘No but it’s weird. I was in Oz when her and Pete broke up. I comforted her while I was there. Seemed the right thing to do. Anyway, I head home to London and next thing I know, she’s flying out to the UK too. Like I say, it’s weird,’ he said shaking his head. ‘She’s got boundary issues. She gets attached to someone without knowing how they feel. That’s why Pete broke up with her. It’s like, she just decides, it’s you and that’s it. You don’t get a say.’

Simi felt herself buckle, mystified. Carmen tapped a spatula, quietening the lively room.

‘Bueno! Guys, I’m going to teach you to make the best, I’m not joking, the best guacamole. Honestly, it’s an aphrodisiac. Know what my magic ingredient is?’ She grinned bumping the man beside her with her hip.

‘Wanna put money on it being marijuana?’ Chance murmured trying to lighten the mood.

‘Mmm,’ said Simi distracted. ‘You should say something to Joy, shouldn’t you?’

‘How? I don’t want to hurt her.’

Simi spooned avocado into her bowl. So, Chance was single it’s just that this red-haired loon hadn’t got the memo. ‘But you’re not…’

‘No,’ he said.

Simi pounded the avocado mush. ‘Have you kissed?’ she asked after a while.

Reluctantly, Chance nodded, throwing coriander into their dish. ‘That’s how it started. It was just this one time. Straight away I knew it was wrong. Now, I just meet her for a coffee or a beer from time to time. That’s it,’ he said looking into Simi’s eyes.

She could see he was telling the truth. There was an honesty about him but there was something else too or something missing. Though he was convincing it didn’t feel like it was her he was trying to convince. But if not her, then who?

Simi looked up at him. ‘Let’s change the subject.’

‘Fine by me,’ he agreed.

‘You know what is my special ingredient? Amoooorrr,’ said Carmen. ‘Love. What you think I was gonna say? Come on. Keep chopping!’

Simi glimpsed over at Chance who dutifully began dicing tomatoes.

‘And you know what would go so well with this one?’ asked Carmen.

‘Tequila!’ everyone shouted.

Thoughts of red-haired temptresses were set aside as Simi threw an anxious glance around the room. Everyone, including Chance, seemed thrilled about washing all this down with tequila, all fifty-seven varieties on the menu if they could. Simi wanted to join in but the last time she drunk neat tequila she’d woken up on the Eurostar. She would politely decline. There had to be another way to show Chance what a great match they were.