‘It’s funny, isn’t it, that this is the first time I’ve travelled since, and it’s pretty much to your doorstep?’

‘Yes, that is a strange coincidence.’

‘When you think about it, coincidence is all we know. It was a coincidence we both wound up alone at the same hotel – a hotel for couples – at the same time. It was a coincidence that I used to be a bartender and you asked me to make you a drink. Everything just seemed to bring us together and work out in our favour.’

‘That’s true.’

It’s strange, we can only talk back and forth for a few sentences before the conversation falls flat.

‘So, how’s the sequel going?’ I ask, changing the subject.

‘Lila, I love you,’ he blurts out. ‘I love you and I’ve missed you and I haven’t stopped thinking about you. There. I said it.’

‘I love you too,’ I reply.

There they are, those three little words that I was too scared to say five months ago. Today they come out so easily.

‘Phew,’ Freddie says. ‘We did it.’

‘So, what happens now?’

‘Pizza?’

‘I’m serious.’ I laugh. ‘Is it really that easy?’

‘A very wise person once told me that relationships are as easy as you make them.’

‘Which The Lord of the Rings movie was that from?’ I joke.

‘God, that day was funny, wasn’t it?’

‘You know, they worked out their differences,’ I tell him. ‘I met them on the boat, on the day I left, and they were so loved-up. That’s when I knew for sure that I’d made a mistake.’

‘That’s great. If they can make it work, anyone can.’

‘Can we make it work?’

‘I know that you’re worried,’ he starts. ‘But I’m here for a few months – we can just hang out and see what happens.’

‘I’d really like that,’ I reply. ‘I have no idea what happens after that, but I feel like we could work it out.’

‘I think you’ve already worked it out,’ he points out. ‘In your book… she’s a writer, she can work from anywhere. They decide to travel the world together, shooting movies, writing books.’

God, that sounds wonderful.

‘I feel like we just sat down and figured this out like adults,’ I say.

‘We did. I know it’s not very romantic. The grand gesture was me turning up unannounced. If we could have done it the other way round, I would have. I could’ve had Marty negotiate our contract.’

‘He wouldn’t have stood a chance against Ali,’ I reply.

Freddie thinks for a moment, a smile creeping across his face. I’ve missed those dimples and that little glimmer in his eyes when he’s up to something.

‘I can salvage this,’ he says. ‘Give me five minutes and then join me at the bar, okay?’

‘Erm, okay,’ I reply.

I watch as he dashes off. I wonder what he’s up to…

Our waitress comes back.

‘Oh, no, has he gone?’ she asks. ‘I’m sure it wasn’t anything you said.’