‘It’s going to be so much fun, Sarah. We’re going to be travel buds again.’

Travel buds? What? Suddenly the romantic haze lifted. And I was there with a guy who I thought I might be falling in love with, but who had just called me his ‘bud’. It was like being slapped.

Josh didn’t seem to notice. ‘We need to get you a cab.’ He picked up our bags, one in each hand, and started walking to where the taxis were lined up to collect disembarking passengers. I followed numbly, and watched as he set the bags down and hailed the next taxi. Before I knew it, my backpack was in the boot, and he was holding the door open for me.

He pressed his mouth against mine. ‘I’m going to miss you, Sarah. I’m really going to miss you.’

‘Me too.’ I didn’t know what else to say. ‘I think I love you, Josh’ didn’t seem the appropriate thing to say to a ‘travel bud’. My stomach churned, and I felt like I couldn’t breathe properly. It was time for the ‘being apart’ bit.

I kissed him again quickly and said, ‘Bye.’ I didn’t wait for a reply. I got into the back seat of the taxi and pulled the door shut. I looked up as it pulled away and Josh had what I can only describe as a sad smile on his face. He raised one hand and I did the same.

And that was it. The end of the trip.

I wondered if I really would see Josh again – if our trip to Hawaii would even happen. If I wanted it to happen. Travel buds? I rested my head back on the seat and watched as an ancient city rushed past the windows.

My phone beeped inside my handbag – a text message – and my heart leapt. He misses me already! I pulled out the phone and was stunned for half a moment to see that the name on the screen wasn’t Josh’s.

It was James.

Hello, beautiful. I can’t wait to see you. What day should we get together?

J x

Only hours before, Josh had asked me not to see James. But that was before he’d made it clear that ours was nothing more than a friendship – sure, it was a meaningful and lovely friendship, but how many times had Josh told me he didn’t want anything more? When was I finally going to get it?

My thumb hovered over the screen, hesitating.

I turned my phone off and put it back in my handbag. The one thing I was sure of was that I was in no state to make plans – with either man.