‘Don’t I? You were the one that just questioned my life choices. You’d be surprised how much pressure there is. Even from our yachting circles. Most of the stews and the deckhands are ten years younger than me. They pass through for a few years before settling down somewhere and getting a job on land, and starting a family. All my friends the same age are married and have kids and it feels I should be using this temporary break to work out what I want and where I want to be long term.

‘Before I broke my ankle, I went to stay with my dad. He’s living in Dubai at the moment. He’s got this great apartment on the waterfront and it’s filled with all the latest tech and he took me out to all these great restaurants. But it hit me that that’s all he had. He had so much, but at the same time it felt like he didn’t have anything. He’s never really had a proper long-term relationship. He doesn’t really know me. And he’s happy with that, he loves his job and he’d never want it any other way. But all I could think of for the whole trip was that if I wasn’t careful, that would be me in twenty years and I don’t think I want it to be.’

He rests his head in his hands, almost massaging the back of his scalp.

‘I’m sorry, Edie, I have no idea why I’m telling you of all people any of this stuff.’

He looks up and smiles with embarrassment.

‘It’s fine, really.’

‘It’s like all my life my mum and my aunt, probably even Soph, have told me that I’m just like my dad and I always took it as a compliment. Thinking it was great that I had his spirit of adventure and I’d inherited his sea legs. But seeing him it hit me what they were really saying.’

I think back to the first time that I met him, when Soph warned me he was just like his dad. I hadn’t realised how wrong it was of her to write him off like that at eighteen.

‘I don’t want to be like him. My mum said to me recently that often the person you’re meant to be with is right under your nose; you’re just too scared to let your heart admit it.’

I swallow hard. I’m wondering if the phrase stings because I know that his mum is trying to nudge him and Verity closer together, or whether it’s because it makes me realise that my heart is too scared to admit Miles isn’t the man I’m supposed to be with.