The officer who spoke to me made me feel flustered and I stuttered through his questions about why I was in New York, my cheeks hot with a pool of sweat settling at the bottom of my back. When I finally made it through, I found Jake waiting for me, unruffled naturally by the process. I tried to not let him see how unsettling I had found it.

We walked through to collect our luggage. I always watched the conveyor belt nervously in case my suitcase had disappeared but thank God, mine was through quickly. It was, of course, me though, and I struggled to grab the handle and lift it off.

‘Here.’ Jake leaned around me and pulled it off easily, then grabbed his. ‘You have a car waiting for us?’

I bristled as I pulled out my suitcase handle, tilted it and began walking. ‘Of course I do,’ I muttered, annoyed he was questioning my capabilities. I knew I had been functioning even less like a grown-up than usual in front of him but it was bloody annoying that he was worried I hadn’t organised our trip properly. Then I remembered my car in London had arrived late despite all my double-checking and I crossed my fingers that wouldn’t happen at this end too.

We weaved our way through the airport and finally breathed in New York air. I scanned the area nervously but with relief, I saw a man holding up a sign with my name on and headed towards him, Jake following behind me. It was a sleek, black car and the driver stowed our luggage while we climbed into the back. Then finally, we set off for the city itself.

‘First time in New York too?’ Jake asked after a few minutes of silent travel. I studied the view out of the window, angling myself away from him, and I didn’t turn around to answer.

‘Yes.’

‘I thought so.’

I glanced over but he was looking out of the other window. I shook my head but didn’t respond. So what if I hadn’t travelled by first class or hadn’t been to New York before? Did that make me even more inferior to him? I wasn’t going to let his indifference bother me. I couldn’t wait to see the city for myself even if he was immune to the delight of it all. I needed to make sure that Jake Richards didn’t stop me from enjoying myself.

‘I suppose you’ve been to New York loads?’ I asked him.

He turned to look at me briefly. ‘Many times.’

I shrugged. ‘Well, maybe you can remember your first time and understand why I’m glad I’m here.’

Our eyes locked. ‘I do remember my first time,’ he said.