But Mia has to be wrong. There’s a reason Peter and I have never been anything more than friends, and that reason is because we shouldn’t. My plan is clear: I will stop fancying him.

‘There are some good tips in there,’ she says, pointing to the stack of paper.

My phone pings again.

‘You really should turn that thing off.’

‘I’ll quickly read what it says and then I promise I’ll turn it off.’

I’ve been thinking about that favour you owe me.

The text is from Peter. I feel my face redden.

I’d like to cash it in. I have a work function coming up that I really don’t want to go to but can’t get out of. Come with me and save me from my colleagues? There will be free food and all the prosecco you could want.

Mia was right. I really should have turned my phone off.

CHAPTER 27

‘You haven’t replied to my text.’ Peter doesn’t even bother with a hello before getting straight to the point.

It is Summer Games Night and someone has already taken the emergency strawberries out of my hands before I have even been able to cross the threshold. Apparently, someone mistakenly put all the non-emergency strawberries into the Pimm’s, leaving none over for the Eton Mess. What a disaster. Luckily I was late and could pick some up on the way.

‘Oh, sorry. Mia and I were on a spa day and I didn’t get any messages until later, and then by the time I looked at my phone I was all dazed. I didn’t mean to not reply.’ Of course this is exactly what I meant to do. I ignored the message in the hope he would forget that I hadn’t replied and would then find someone else to take to his work event. Before I can stop myself, I keep going. ‘I would love to come though.’

At this he gives me a hug, and I don’t know how to feel.

I break the hug off a little abruptly.

I try to hide my discomfort by digging into my bag. ‘Your birthday card.’ It isn’t his birthday until next week but I know he’s away with work then, and he’s not the type to think about having a party. I pass the card to Peter, along with my traditional present – highly overpriced American sweets, the small red fish that contain all the E-numbers but taste absolutely delicious. I give them to him every year, and every year he opens them up straight away and gives me the first one.

This year is no different.

I take the sweet quickly before he shields them from everyone else.

I can barely hear his thank-you over people nagging him.

‘Come on, Oddly! Just one. I only want one.’

‘Thanks, Bea. This is my favourite present every year.’ I smile back at him, until I see Mia looking at me from across the room, dice in hand, ready to roll. Her eyes are saying a lot.