A flicker of something crosses his face. ‘I think it suits you better.’

‘Yeah, well, I’m counting the hours till it comes off.’

He runs his eyes up and down my body. ‘Right.’ When he smiles at me, he looks like the old Joel Greenaway, the prodigy, the pin-up, the boy who couldn’t help being a charmer.

I turn away from him because I can’t get my head round any of this.

Easy, sexy jazz drifts through from the garden and I know it must be time for Marilyn and Neil’s first dance. They’ve been rehearsing a slinky show-stopper.

The parlour is empty now, except for us.

‘Look, Kerry, now we’re here . . . I’m sorry.’

I wave him away. Not now. Not today. Not ever.

‘You’ll never forgive me and that’s OK. I behaved like the world’s biggest shit but I did it for you.’

Now I spin back round to face him. ‘You what?’

‘I’m a loser, Kerry. Look at me. Dressed up to the nines to pour drinks at someone else’s party. This is as good as it’s gonna get for me. As soon as they told me I was off the team, I had to end it between us. For your sake.’

‘Bullshit. You only thought about yourself, you bloody coward. I didn’t care if you never kicked a ball again in your life. I love – loved you for what I thought you were. Not because I thought you were going to play for England or earn a million quid a week.’

He opens his mouth to respond but I’m not finished yet.

‘And what did I get back for loving you? I screwed up my exams, which nearly ruined my whole life. I’ve ended up with no degree and a job going nowhere and you have the nerve to tell me this was all for me? You’re a user and a—’

He catches hold of my wrist mid-rant and pulls me towards him.

‘You said you love me . . . even a thicko like me knows the difference between the past and present tense.’

Did I? Do I?

No. I love Tim. I really do. And this stuff I’m feeling now is muscle memory. ‘I said I loved you. Before you screwed everything up.’

‘Kerry, I am so sorry for the way I behaved. Seeing you now, I wish . . .’

My rage is turning into something else.

His lips are on mine and despite everything, I want this . . .

Over his shoulder, through the bay window, I can see the Peace Statue and the Lawns to the right of it and the sea beyond.

We pull apart. Who made that kiss happen?

Further away, I hear ‘Unchained Melody’ begin and the applause outside as my sister and her new husband take to the floor. ‘I’m meant to be watching their first dance . . .’