‘I have, actually. Loved it,’ Hugo replied. ‘I had a career change a few years ago—law was just not for me—and I needed some time away to work out what I wanted to do. I spent nine months in Australia, part of it in Melbourne just working in a restaurant, then I met up with a friend from school and went to the Territory and Western Australia. Uluru and the Kimberley were unforgettable!’

‘You’ve seen more of the country than me,’ said Evie. ‘Mum’s Australian and I grew up in Melbourne till I was about sixteen. But I never got to see much of Australia because whenever we went on family holidays we came to England to see my dad’s relatives. I hated living here at first, but I’ve learned to love it.’

Just as Hugo was about to respond, the waiter brought over Evie’s hot chocolate, and by the time he’d left, Hugo had returned his attention to his laptop.

Evie picked up Mila 18 with a sigh, then felt her phone vibrate in her pocket. It was Ben. Hearing his voice made Evie feel more relaxed and they soon fell into their standard bantering mode, discussing the lecture she’d missed. It had been about The Breakfast Club and, as was often the case, they each had their own resolute views about it.

Seeing Hugo look over, Evie was suddenly conscious she might be annoying him with her chatter. She told Ben she’d call him later and hung up abruptly.

‘I’m sorry if I disturbed you,’ she said to Hugo as she put her phone on the table.

‘Not at all,’ he replied. ‘Mind you, I could do with the distraction. As it happens, I’m having a crack at writing a novel, but I’m suffering from an afternoon of writer’s block.’

‘Oh, is that what you’ve been typing away so furiously at?’ Evie asked with a smile.

‘Yes, well, I’m typing furiously but I’ll probably nix half of it. I’ve turned out to be from the “get it all down and revise it later” school of writing.’

‘Maybe that’s where I’m going wrong,’ said Evie. ‘I’m too much of a perfectionist.’

‘Well, that’s the very last word I’d use to describe my approach,’ said Hugo.

Evie let out a hiccup of a laugh. She’d expected Hugo to be charming and personable—he was always such a natural in interviews—but she was amazed by just how warm and self-deprecating he was. He had that rare ability to make you feel as if you were the only person in the room, and Evie had always admired this quality in other people.