‘That’s amazing,’ Sam said, his voice soft as the twilight settled around us. ‘Genuinely, I know how hard it can be to break away from domineering parents. And at least I have brothers so the heat isn’t all on me. You are one brave woman.’

I fidgeted under his gaze. ‘I don’t know about that.’

‘Anyone who chooses to relocate to Bigley Bottom is no coward.’ He laughed. ‘So, what about the Dream List? You seem to be working your way through it alone.’

I shrugged. ‘That’s the plan. I’m going to complete the whole list solo, and hopefully figure some things out as I go.’

Sam looked at me steadily for a moment while my heart fidgeted about in my chest.

‘You’re not allowed any help?’

‘Well, I’m allowed a bit of help from my friends. Friends, or random strangers.’

‘But not a boyfriend.’

‘No. Not even a date. The friend you met made me sign a contract. A No-Man Mandate.’

‘What else is on this list?’

I smiled. ‘I’m not telling you.’

‘Okay.’ Sam nodded, smiling back as he raised his glass in a toast. ‘Well, good luck with it, and God speed. I look forward to you completing it.’

Um, excuse me?

I managed to just about avoid choking on my tongue, before stuttering a thank you and hotfooting it out of there while that statement zipped about my head like a pinball.

‘He was totally flirting!’ Steph said, when I called her the next day to recount my weekend escapades.

‘I don’t know… he’s so friendly and nice. Maybe he was just being supportive.’

Steph snorted. ‘Yeah, like when Drew said he liked my hair it was a general observation.’

I couldn’t help smiling at this. Drew had joined our school in year twelve, and one week into the new year he’d approached me in the lunch queue to ask who my friend was.

‘Which friend?’ I replied, rolling my eyes as if I actually had more than one friend. Inside, I couldn’t help bracing myself, in the way I’d learnt to do when people spoke about Steph. They didn’t usually mention her weight, but it had come up enough times to make me instinctively on the defensive.

‘The one with the hair.’ His used his hands to demonstrate Steph’s wild mass of curls.

‘Pretty sure all my friends have hair,’ I replied, but I smiled to indicate that I knew who he was talking about, and I approved of him asking. ‘Her name’s Steph.’

The boy grinned in relief, nodding as he filed away the information.

‘Who shall I say’s asking?’

‘Oh! Um. Well. You don’t have to mention it…’

‘She’s my best friend. On what planet wouldn’t I mention that the new boy is asking after her?’