I supposed that at least I wouldn’t need to fend off any more bad chat-up lines looking like this. Pulling off my pjs, I turned the shower onto the hottest setting and stepped under the water, hoping it would turn me from a zombie back into something resembling a human being. I stayed in there until my skin pruned, then I got ready for the day, pulling on a knee-length, floral dress with tan ankle boots. I tied my hair up into a ponytail and did my make-up then headed downstairs for breakfast. I knew Liv and Tessa had had breakfast really early as they had events of their own to do so after hitting the buffet, I carried my plate and coffee and looked for a free table.

‘Freya.’

I turned to see Jake at a table for two having his breakfast. He gestured to the empty chair. I knew this could be awkward but we still had to get through the rest of the conference together so I nodded, took a breath and went over to sit opposite him.

‘Morning,’ I said as I put my plate and coffee down, and sank into the spare chair.

‘Sleep at all?’ he asked, watching as I took a long sip of my coffee, hoping it would give me some much-needed energy. Jake looked a little bit tired too, but his hair and stubble were perfect as usual. He wore a crisp, blue shirt and a pair of navy trousers. It was a pleasant view across the table, that was for sure.

‘Not great, no.’

‘Same. Listen, we have a few hours before the reader session; why don’t we leave this hotel and see a bit of New York? I feel like we both could do with it.’

I raised an eyebrow. ‘You want to hang out with me?’

‘You haven’t seen anything of the city yet and I know how excited you were to be in New York; it doesn’t feel right. Let’s get out of here.’

I hesitated. ‘But I thought you were over New York…’ I remembered Jake’s reaction to me looking out of the yellow cab from the airport. I was desperate to get out of hotels and see New York but not with someone who wasn’t interested in enjoying it with me. Plus, things felt so awkward between us after him warning me about Davis last night and me questioning who Jake was as a person. And whether I would like him or not.

‘Well, seeing it through your eyes might change my mind. I know the place like the back of my hand; I’m happy to take you anywhere you want to go.’ He saw me still hesitating. ‘Come on, what have you got to lose?’ he challenged me, a twinkle in his eyes that surprised me.