‘I didn’t think you’d care about my career now,’ I replied. I shrugged. ‘But yes, I have no choice. And we have to get back to being professional with each other so we might as well start as soon as possible,’ I said, turning back to the window.

There was a short silence. ‘Okay.’

We didn’t speak for the rest of the journey to the airport. I ached with wanting to erase our argument but even if we could get past what happened last night, I wasn’t sure there was any point. My career needed to be my focus now. We were miles apart even next to each other in this car, and that made me hold back from reaching out to him either literally or figuratively. Maybe Jake felt the same way as he didn’t make any attempts to speak to me either.

Once at the airport, we got out, grabbed our bags and made our way through all the checks to the first-class lounge. It was still early and the airport was quiet, which suited me as my head ached. I grabbed coffee and a pastry and sat down, hoping I could sleep on the flight.

Jake went to the buffet and when he came over, hovered near my table, unsure whether to join me or not. I stayed silent as I watched, wondering what he was going to do. Jake started towards me then but he didn’t see there was a slight bump where the lino floor turned into carpet tiles and his shoes caught the line. He tripped forward, the tray shook and as if it was happening in slow motion, it slipped out of his hands, sending the coffee, plate of scrambled eggs, sausage, bacon and beans, and the pot of fruit and yoghurt all over the floor, shattering the plates and the cup, and even though Jake managed to right himself and stop falling to the floor along with it all, he did get splashed by the baked beans.

Everyone in the lounge looked over at the noise.

Jake cried out ‘fuck’ as his trousers got covered in food. And I bit my lip hard to stop myself from laughing. The sight of Jake like this was priceless, though. I had embarrassed myself spectacularly in front of him on the way here and miraculously, the universe was throwing me a bone for once and this time, it was him.

Jake looked at me biting my lip. ‘Don’t say anything,’ he growled before turning and half-running for the toilets. A member of staff came over to clear up the mess with an annoyed titter. I turned away and let out a snort. We had talked about my falling over in front of him as a meet-cute situation. Things could have been very different if we’d just met this morning. I would have likely swooned at meeting someone so good-looking and equally as clumsy and chaotic as me.