‘But everyone kept acting like it was the most amazing thing in the world, I didn’t know how to tell them I was miserable. It didn’t seem right to complain about my life when the entire world was going through so much shit, you know? And everyone was so impressed when I was offered the job. They headhunted me, I didn’t apply, they found me and offered me this amazing deal to go over there.’ I groaned, pressing my fingers into my throbbing temples. ‘My parents were so proud of me and it was nice to be the one they bragged about for a change. Did you know my sister is an actual genius?’

He tipped his head from side to side. ‘Sumi did mention it, yeah.’

‘Of course she did,’ I smiled. ‘Jo is the miracle child and I’m just me. And my dad will never get over the fact I didn’t want to sell toilets for a living.’

‘That’s got to be tough,’ he said, biting into a chip. ‘But I’m sure they’re just as proud of you.’

‘They wouldn’t be if they knew I’d got the sack,’ I replied. ‘Isn’t it ridiculous? There’s no big story, no big scandal, I’m just a let-down. I was sad and lonely and I failed at my job, I got the sack and I don’t want anyone to know because they’ll think less of me. Honestly, I’d give anything to go back and change my mind, to not leave in the first place.’

John let it all sink in while I took a very cautious sip of wine. My natural response to dropping a truth bomb was to chug but I felt strangely relaxed. My nan was right, it was better out than in. Although, she was rarely referring to the truth when she said that.

‘I suppose one good thing came out of your coming back when you did,’ John said.

‘What’s that?’

‘You got back together with your boyfriend,’ he said, wiping his hands on a white cloth napkin. ‘You’ve been very quiet about him tonight. What’s going on there?’

It was a change of subject I wasn’t expecting.

‘Uh, everything is fine?’ I meant it to be a statement but it definitely came out sounding more like a question.

John’s features flashed into a quick ‘yikes’ expression before settling back into his sort-of smile.

‘No, it is, really,’ I said again, more certain this time. ‘Things are still a bit complicated.’

Right by the door, I saw a couple in a pink booth, clearly on a date but clearly still quite new to one another. She kept fussing with her hair and he was finding every excuse he could to touch her. By my calculations, they were half a drink away from one of them having to buy a toothbrush on the way to work tomorrow morning.