‘No, this software thing seems to be taking off, so I think I’ll stick with that for now.’ He winked at me, which was kind of flirty, but not enough to scare me away. There were a lot of stars out, and I stared up at the sky, sipping my drink. It started to warm me through.

‘Hey, Sarah?’

‘Yeah.’

‘I hope you don’t mind, but you know, it’s a small boat, and I couldn’t help hearing when you were talking to Hannah about your ex earlier.’

‘Oh. I thought you were reading.’

‘I was. It’s just … I got pulled out of the story once in a while by some of the things you said.’

‘Oh.’

‘He’s an asshole, you know.’

‘Yeah, I know.’

‘Not all guys are like that.’

‘I know that too,’ I replied far too defensively.

‘Sorry. I shouldn’t have said anything.’

I sighed. ‘It’s okay. It’s just … I have the worst taste in men.’

He didn’t respond and when I looked at him, he had an odd expression on his face. Did he think I meant him? Oh crap. I mean, it wasn’t as if we had anything going – not really – but maybe he thought I was lumping him in with all the others. Double crap.

I gracelessly changed the subject to him. It was either that, or go into some ridiculously long explanation of what I’d meant, which would mean admitting I was attracted to him.

‘What about you?’ I asked, trying to keep my voice light.

‘Me?’ He looked surprised.

‘Yes. You leave anyone special at home?’ He shook his head and took a sip. ‘How about any exes you want to whinge about?’

‘No. There’s no one.’

‘No exes?’

‘Nope.’

‘Ever?’ I was intrigued. Meeting a man of twenty-eight with no exes was like sighting a unicorn.

‘Well, sure, yes. A long time ago, but I don’t want to whinge about it, as you say.’

‘Okay.’ Not a unicorn then.

‘I’m celibate.’ I really didn’t see that coming – a unicorn after all.

‘Celibate?’

‘Yes. I haven’t been with anyone for several years.’

‘By choice?’ I tried to wrap my mind around a cute, smart, funny guy who could probably get any girl he wanted, but chose to forgo sex.

‘Yep.’ And then, as if convincing himself more so than me, he added, ‘Definitely by choice. And it’s good. I don’t actually want anyone in my life – to be part of a couple, or in a relationship, or anything.’

So, what’s with all the flirting then, huh? ‘Were you hurt? Badly? Is that why?’ I could address the flirting thing later.

‘Yes and no. I mean, I had a girlfriend – in college. It ended.’

‘How long were you together?’

‘Two years – just over two years.’ This is like pulling teeth.

‘That’s quite a while. How did it end?’