I slid the salmon onto a plate, added a spoonful of buttery new potatoes and half the fancy salad I’d picked up from the deli counter at the Hatherstone Hall farm shop, and sat down to eat, facing the kitchen window, Nesbit curled up underneath the table.

Three mouthfuls in, there was a knock on the front door, sending Nesbit into a flurry of barking as he skidded up and down the hallway. I checked my phone – it was just after eight. Not unsociably late. But the only person who’d called unannounced since I moved in was Leanne, and Joan had told me they were having a movie night this evening. My anxiety twitching, I went to answer it, trying to avoid standing on Nesbit, still doing his very best impression of a ferocious guard dog.

When I opened the door, Nesbit entered a whole new level of excited, announcing this awesome visitor with a victory sprint around the entire house, including up the stairs.

‘Hi!’ I said, surprised to see Sam standing there, before realising that, really, who else would it be, given the number of people I knew in Bigley and beyond.

‘Hi!’ He grinned, before seeming to register my appearance, his jaw dropping slightly, eyes widening. ‘Oh – am I interrupting?’

I glanced down to where his eyes had temporarily paused before darting back up to my face, only then remembering with a spasm of horror that I’d undone the top two buttons on my slightly-too-tight jumpsuit and there was now an inch of black lacy bra on display, along with the kind of cleavage that my supermarket bras could only dream of.

‘Um…’ Is it better to say yes or no?

I had told Sam about the Dream List, but really, standing here in my slinky suit with my boobs half-out, the whiff of wine and James Morrison wafting down the hallway, the idea of spending Friday night on a date with myself couldn’t feel any more pathetic.

‘Hello!’ a cheery voice called out, as Sam’s mum appeared out of nowhere. ‘Sam mentioned that he needed to bring your pots back, and I insisted on coming to thank you for a simply delicious meal.’

Sam awkwardly held up the cool bag I’d delivered the meal in two weeks earlier.

‘Oh, and by the way, I’m Pia.’ She moved forwards to shake my hand, forcing Sam to step to the side. To give her credit, when Pia noticed what I was wearing, she didn’t even blink.

‘You’re busy, we won’t keep you.’ She offered me a female version of Sam’s stunning smile. ‘Enjoy the rest of your evening!’

At that point, Nesbit decided to return, clattering down the stairs to proudly display his new treasure. My heart sank even deeper into my inappropriately exposed chest as I tried to shove him back with my foot.