I laughed as he moved towards me. ‘Oh, now that really is stretching it.’

‘And luckily, you can’t remember me when I was young,’ he said softly. ‘None taken, by the way.’ I laughed quietly. He was resting his hands lightly on my shoulders now and I tilted my face up. If ever a girl needed to be kissed, it was me. Kiss away all my worries and troubles. Make the bogeyman disappear. And when he did, it was lovely: gentle and tender, and he held me very close, too. I could feel his heart thudding against mine before we drew back and I suspected my own was doing the same, unaccustomed as it was to such activity. But the lighting was harsh and overhead, and the door was still open, and his mother was in the next room. We made wry faces at each other and stifled a laugh apiece.

‘Another time, I think,’ he murmured.

‘Quite.’

‘And now I think I’ll take you home.’

‘I could walk?’

He made an appalled face. ‘Don’t be ridiculous.’

He went to the kitchen dresser for his car keys and I noticed his face was quite flushed and happy, as I suspected mine was too. Yes, this was nice. Felt right. He shouted to Nance that he was running me back and I popped my head in and said goodbye. She looked curious and excited, her eyes wide as I pecked her cheek. But I gave nothing away.

‘Do come back, my dear,’ she murmured, grasping my hand. ‘Dan would so love it.’

I grinned and agreed that I would, and then Dan took me home. We did kiss again, before I got out, with more passion than before, and then laughed as we realized that here we were, in a steamy car, snogging outside my parents’ house. It was too absurd. I got out and shut the door, agreeing to meet again soon, but with fewer interested parties. As I let myself into the darkened house, I discovered I was still smiling. I had an idea Dan might be too. I turned out the few lamps my parents had left on and poked the smouldering log into submission in the grate. The dishwasher was humming cheerfully in the kitchen. Hector was asleep in his basket. I made to go upstairs. Out of habit, I checked my phone. One message from Imo, hoping I was OK, another from Ned, and one from Josh which made me stop, halfway up the stairs, on the landing.

‘Sorry, thought I’d sent this and wondered why you hadn’t replied, then just found it unsent. Bit disorganized – I’ve been away:

OK, that doesn’t sound good. Tell your friend I’m happy to advise her if she’d like to meet.’

23

I stared at the screen. Went a bit cold suddenly, shocked. I read the last text I’d sent him.