Slowly, things started to fall into place. Jess’s many short-term relationships. Her refusal to commit to anyone. Her on-off friendship with Will. The very first time Jess had ever dented their “friendship first” pact.

“When we got engaged and I begged you to take the Melbourne job, you chose Sydney.”

“I stayed away to protect our friendship.”

The words snapped Libby out of her confusion. “I don’t believe you.”

“That’s your choice, but it’s true.” Jess let out a long, rattily sigh. “I love you, Libby, you’re the sister I never had. But there are times when it’s not easy to love you. You got everything: the best parents, a sister, cute kids, a house on the point, a worthy career and the man I love. Do you have any idea how hard it is sometimes to listen to you prattle on about Nick, whining about his stinky socks, how he dresses the girls in mismatched clothes, but then how he always nails your birthday present? Sydney gave me the space I needed so I didn’t lose both of you.”

The banked coals of Libby’s fury flared. “If my friendship’s so precious to you, then why the hell did you risk it by having sex with Nick?”

“It was never deliberate.”

“I find that hard to believe.”

“I’m dying, Lib. Can you just listen?”

The words bit and Libby forced herself to use the listening tools she and Nick had been taught. “I’ll try.”

Jess took another sip of water as if readying for a long story. “If Nick had fallen in love with anyone other than you, I’d have done everything possible to break them up. But I loved you both. I didn’t want to lose either of you, so I moved to Sydney. We talked and had our girls’ weekends and when I didn’t see you with Nick, I could pretend nothing had changed.

“That year after Dom’s death, I ached for you. I wished I could do something to make you feel less gutted. I knew the anniversary was going to be tough so I flew down to surprise you. But when I arrived at Burrunan, you’d taken the girls to Melbourne and Nick was home alone and a mess. I couldn’t believe you’d left him when he needed you. It was such a princess thing to do and I got mad. How could you not see what you had in him? So I borrowed Nick, just like we borrow stuff off each other all the time. And I gave him back to you, except for one tiny part of him. I got Leo. You got everything else. It’s a fair trade.”