‘So, you’ve been looking at my Instagram, huh? Those sponsored posts are planned way in advance – that picture might have been taken before we met.’

So much for wondering if he looked happy or as if he missed me in his photos.

‘What are you doing here?’ I ask, changing the subject from my Insta-stalking. I suppose it’s a much better way to get answers, by asking questions. It beats trying to read between the lines of his image captions.

‘I’m in London for a few months, filming the second Eden movie,’ he explains. ‘That’s why I look so neat and tidy. And why I’m drinking diet soda. I had to get back into shape to play Edward. I feel like a dork.’

‘I can’t believe the you I met on holiday wasn’t in shape,’ I say. ‘You look great.’

‘So do you,’ he replies. ‘How are things?’

‘Erm, not bad,’ I start. ‘I’m living with Ali now, which is exactly as I remember it – apart from the screaming orgasms, but I suppose that’s because she’s been having a secret affair with Marty.’

‘I’m sorry things didn’t work out with Daniel,’ he says. ‘You were right to give it a try. I’m sorry if it seemed like I was trying to get in your way. God, I’ve wanted to say that to you for months.’

‘We didn’t even try,’ I tell him. ‘We were never going to.’

‘Oh,’ he replies. ‘Sorry, I thought you said…’

‘Yeah, I did. I didn’t know what else to do. I was planning on saying something completely different to you that night but…’

I don’t know how to finish my sentence. Everything just sounds so stupid.

‘Well, I have a confession to make,’ Freddie says.

‘Oh?’

‘I read your book. Your new one.’

I feel my cheeks flush with embarrassment. It never occurred to me that he might read it.

‘Wait. It’s not even out yet,’ I say.

‘Yeah, my manager knows a woman who had a copy,’ he jokes.

Ali! So much for her saying she lost it.

‘I liked the ending,’ he says. ‘The book seemed pretty accurate up to then.’

‘I have to write happy endings,’ I reply. ‘And I really messed stuff up with us.’

‘You know you said you were going to say something different that night,’ Freddie starts. ‘Do you mind me asking what it was?’

‘Would you like to hear our specials?’ our waitress interrupts.

‘Can we have a few more minutes, please?’ Freddie asks her hurriedly.

‘Oh, okay, of course,’ she replies, clearly realising we’re in the middle of something.

‘You’ve read the book,’ I say when we’re alone again.

It makes it easier, that he’s read it. It saves me having to own up to the fact that I was going to tell him that I was falling in love with him.

‘Can I ask what changed your mind?’

‘It was Daniel,’ I reply. ‘But not like that. I just got scared. I couldn’t see how we could work, living so far apart, you travelling a lot…’