While she strolled home, Evie thought back to her conversation with Ben. What he had said about feeling boosted up by Hugo had stuck with her. She’d always thought that being in a relationship with a creative would bring a sense of contentment that, finally, life was whole and good. And while the romance and butterflies were still there, the fulfillment she’d expected hadn’t quite settled in. Not yet, anyway.

Evie had originally put her feelings of unease about Hugo down to both the whole ‘travelling ten years back in time’ thing and her uncertainty about whether she’d be shot forward to the future at any given moment. But something continued to niggle at her. What that thing was, Evie didn’t quite feel ready to confront.

Nearing her local florist, the buckets of colourful blooms sitting on the pavement caught her eye. An arrangement of white tulips seemed to call to her and, scooping up a bundle, Evie decided to treat herself.

Approaching her street with her tulips tucked beneath her arm, Evie noticed the blonde woman she’d bumped into earlier crossing the road towards the building beside Hugo’s lavender terrace. Evie frowned and waited until the woman had disappeared around the corner.

‘Well Bunny, look who’s here!’ said Hugo, standing to kiss Evie hello as she came through the door. ‘You’re just in time for a pot of tea.’

After Evie filled a vase and arranged the flowers, she sat down on a bar stool in the kitchen, feeling thoroughly worn out. The podcast had zapped her energy and she still felt slightly on edge.

But, as soon as she sat down, Hugo launched into a recap of his night.

‘You’ll never guess what Liam told me about Margie,’ he began, referring to the film agent in Liam’s agency.

‘What?’

‘Margie told Fiona, the casting agent, that I should play Ryan.’

‘I thought the casting agent’s name was Chloe?’

‘No. Fiona. Chloe’s her assistant,’ said Hugo after a beat. ‘She loved the screenplay suggestions you helped me with, by the way. Anyway, Liam told Margie I didn’t think any of the actors reading for Ryan felt like a good fit, and asked if she and the producer would consider me for the role. And she asked Fiona.’

So that was how it happened, Evie thought.

‘Fiona said it was a brilliant idea. Liam’s going to send Margie some audition videos and we’ll see what happens. Can you believe it?’ Hugo beamed.

‘Wow, Hugo. That is so fantastic!’ Evie said, genuinely elated for him.

Though Hugo agreed it was exciting, he was also concerned he would be taking on too much and that he wouldn’t be any good in the role.