‘Absolutely.’ It was the one thing Liv couldn’t imagine having to put up with, but she was lucky with Eddie that way; all he ever did was go to work or meet up with his mates. ‘It’ll be awkward though, what with the business and her living in his apartment and everything.’

‘I’m sure Pete will extricate himself from it fairly quickly.’ Maya smiled.

‘What?’

‘Well, they weren’t exactly a match made in heaven.’ Maya shook her head. ‘I was just surprised that he’d made that sort of commitment with her to begin with. Everyone knows he’d drop her in a second if you needed so much as a fresh cup of tea.’ She stopped then.

‘Ah, don’t say that.’ Pete was one of her best friends; she couldn’t bear it if that friendship was somehow standing in the way of his happiness.

‘Don’t beat yourself up about it, sis. He deserves much better…’ Maya stopped now, lowered her voice; she’d never been one to gossip. ‘And Anya… well, Anya will probably always drift from one man to the next. Anya will always make sure she’s taken care of.’

‘Ugh.’ Liv shivered, although she was too wrapped up to feel the cold. ‘Do you really think she’s like that?’

‘Well, when you told me I wasn’t exactly surprised.’ Maya didn’t appear to take any pleasure in admitting it.

‘I’m sure you’re wrong. I’m sure she’s just fallen for someone else. That’s love, isn’t it? Maybe Pete wasn’t the one for her, but maybe she’s met someone else who is.’

‘You really refuse to see anything but the good in anyone, don’t you?’ Maya said almost with pity in her eyes.

‘No, not at all. Well, maybe. I thought Pete was utterly crazy about her.’ Liv thought about them together. Actually, although she hated to admit it, in the beginning, she’d almost been a little jealous of the way he seemed to adore every syllable that slipped from those perfectly pouting lips. By comparison, she and Eddie felt like old socks: they went together, sure, but there was never any great sparkle about them. Certainly, there had never been that adoring puppy phase where he’d looked at her as if she was the best thing since ripe bananas. ‘It just seems like such a shame; I can’t imagine why she’d want to go seeing someone behind his back.’

‘He’s too bloody nice, that’s why. Now stop thinking about it. Pete would never want to spoil your holiday with feeling sorry for him – you should know that better than anyone.’ Maya shook her head and of course, Liv knew – as usual – her sister was spot on.