Thankfully, the game kicked off only a few minutes later and everyone focused their attention on the children. Hayley arrived part way through the first half.

She air-kissed my cheek. ‘So sorry. I had a late one—or rather an early morning—with Wei.’

I raised an eyebrow, happy to think of something other than my own shitty life. ‘How many nights have you seen him now?’

Hayley giggled like a schoolgirl. ‘I’ve lost count.’

‘Things getting serious between you two?’

‘Serious?’ she scoffed. ‘It’s only sex, but damn fine sex and I can’t help but keep going back for more. Anyway, has Payton scored any goals?’

‘I couldn’t tell you.’

Hayley grabbed my elbow and led me away from the crowd. ‘Have you spoken to Adrian?’ She glanced over to where he was standing alongside the pitch, shouting tips to our daughter.

‘Uh-huh.’

‘And? What did he say about your new look?’

‘Say?’ It was my turn to scoff. ‘I don’t think he even noticed—it’s like I’m invisible to him now. Nothing more than some woman who gave birth to his children.’

‘Oh Ash.’ Hayley squeezed my hand and I was thankful she wasn’t much of a hugger, because a hug right now would be like switching on my tear ducts. Although I’d cried plenty in private, it would be mortifying if I cried here. ‘Maybe he just needs a little time.’

‘Maybe.’ But I was rapidly losing hope. Not only did he not appear to miss ‘us’ even the slightest, but he’d coped better than I’d ever imagined during his week with the kids and was probably having daily one-night stands on his ‘week off’. ‘How much time do I give him? I’m not sure how I’m supposed to get through another week twiddling my thumbs, wondering if my kids are okay. Maybe I should ask him to reconsider our custody arrangement. Do you think he’d agree to me having the kids during the week and him having them on weekends?’

‘Don’t you want to get back with him?’

‘Well, yes, but—’

‘Then don’t make his life easier. Don’t give him a free pass to spend less time with his children. Anyway, I’ve been thinking, and I have a better idea.’

‘If you tell me I need to get a job or join Tinder or Bumble or whatever those stupid dating apps are called—’

She interrupted before I had the chance to deliver my murderous thoughts. ‘No, nothing like that. I know how hard you find it being away from the kids and I know being cooped up in my apartment is driving you crazy. Also, I’m not sure there’s any surface left for you to clean. So, I was thinking maybe you should get away somewhere more relaxing for the week.’

‘What? Like Bali?’

A few friends and I had been talking about the possibility of a girls’ trip for years now, but none of us ever seemed to be able to coordinate our schedules. Maybe Hayley could come with me? My other friends probably wouldn’t be able to at such short notice and also some of them had been a little off with me the last couple of weeks. As if they thought my misfortune might rub off on them and cause their husbands to follow Adrian’s example. Or worse—that I, desperate newly single woman that I was, might make a play for their men.