I know what she means. Not the knowing I can get a man to sleep with me, obviously. But her words resonate. A man who wants to be with me. That’s what I’ve been missing, too.

‘I get it, Faith.’

‘I envy how fearlessly you put yourself out there, Gracie.’

‘I wouldn’t say fearlessly,’ I correct her swiftly. ‘And I wouldn’t say to any great success. More like a glutton for punishment. A bit bonkers, I believe you said.’

‘I said completely bonkers. And you are brave. Like no one else I know.’

I’m set to fob Faith off with a self-loathing one-liner, but I stop myself. I stop myself from beating myself up. I haven’t always made the wisest choices. But it’s true: I’ve given things a go.

‘Thank you,’ I say.

Faith clinks her wine glass against mine.

‘I will try with Toby,’ she announces. ‘I will be brave, I will be honest with him, and I will try.’

‘I wish you well, Faith. He’s gorgeous and lovely. I’m sure he’ll be thrilled to know he won’t be ditched in under a month. I really am so confident for you. Go for it!’

‘Okay. I will. And you’ll hold me accountable if I waiver?’

‘Deal. By the way, I have some interesting news.’

‘Go on.’

‘I’ve just come from seeing Liz Martin and you won’t believe it, but I think she has a plan that finally finishes off my problems with that snake Alex Sutcliffe.’

‘Really? Tell me all.’ Riesling in hand, Faith settles on the stool beside me.

I don’t know how I missed it earlier, but there’s a packaged Rabbit vibrator on her benchtop. The attached pink Post-it note reads, Enjoy! Love, Lucy xxx.

‘Lucy is sending you sex toys?’ I ask, side-tracking our conversation.

‘Um, I suppose.’

‘Are you guys…’

‘You mean girls.’

‘Faith, are you sleeping with Lucy?’

She raises her eyebrow and watches me squirm. ‘We kissed – but that’s it. But what a kiss! Kissing a woman… it’s a whole other experience. You should try it at least once.’

‘I had enough with her finger sucking, Faith. But good for you.’

‘I was tempted to go further,’ Faith carries on. ‘There was a bit of groping and fondling. My goodness, Gracie, you’re actually blushing!’

‘I do have one question,’ I say, glancing at the Rabbit – a big pink dildo with, according to the packaging, a gun-shaped clitoris-tickler on top.

‘Truly, the best vibrator for pleasuring one’s self. I’ve got one already,’ she says. ‘You can have this one.’

‘I’m, um, good, thanks. Where did you meet Lucy?’

‘You don’t remember? She was one of the women who entered the competition. It was her and “Mitch the Bitch”.’