And while Yasmin, Trev and Jaxx hooted and hollered, and Irene stuck two fingers in her mouth and produced an ear-splitting whistle as the rest of us offered a decorous clap, Kyle, Kyron and Kylo launched themselves over the back hedge and onto the dance floor.

Once the first dance was over, and the guests were calling for an encore, I sidled around to where I’d just spotted Sam slipping into the kitchen.

‘Sam, wait,’ I hissed, causing him to stop in the far doorway and turn to face me. After an awkward moment where I waited for him to speak, I carried on. ‘What was that about with Leon?’

‘What do you mean?’

Okay, I’d had two cocktails and a glass of Prosecco but I wasn’t imagining things. ‘You were rude to him.’

‘Just making small talk.’

‘While I’ve clearly done something to spoil our friendship, like – I don’t know – saying I don’t want to engage in some casual fling with you, that doesn’t make it okay to act like a caveman in front of every man who talks to me.’

‘Talks to you? He was practically drooling. If I’d not intervened you’d have had no chance at sticking to your man-free plan.’

‘I think I could have held him off for a couple more hours,’ I snapped, tears pricking at the backs of my eyes.

‘What?’ Sam frowned.

‘This is the last item on the Dream List. As of midnight I can date, kiss, do whatever I like with whoever I like.’

There was a stony silence. Sam was completely still.

‘And he’s the person you’ve been waiting for?’

‘What’s it to you if he is?’

Sam rolled his eyes. I felt a giant urge to kick him in the shin. ‘He’s a sleaze. That comment about how he’s hoping he’s already found someone, five minutes after he’s met you.’ He shook his head in contempt. ‘I can promise you he’s not interested in the kind of relationship you’ve been dreaming of.’

‘Well, I’m so pleased you were here to work that out in the two minutes you stood there and glowered at him!’ I said, grateful that the Frea-K Three-K were building to a loud enough crescendo that no one would hear me on the brink of yelling. ‘Equally, how wonderful that you seem to know the exact kind of relationship I want. Please, do enlighten me.’

‘You said yourself that you’re not looking for anything casual.’ Sam’s voice had grown quieter now, his eyes boring into mine.

‘Maybe I changed my mind,’ I flung back at him, my own words softening in line with his. ‘Maybe I just didn’t want anything casual with you.’