I pause from folding a T-shirt neatly to pack in my small suitcase and stare at Kate. “Does he look like an ax murderer to you?”

“Not really,” she admits. “But what does an ax murderer actually look like? Hm?”

“I think it’s brilliant,” declares Amanda from where she is draped across the wicker chair in the corner of my bedroom. The morning sun is beaming through the blinds behind her, giving her an angelic halo effect that she doesn’t deserve. “He’s gorgeous.”

The three of us pause to picture James and adopt similar dreamy expressions. “As gorgeous as he is,” Kate says sternly, shaking herself out of her reverie, “we still don’t know the first thing about him.”

“Kate.” I put the last item of clothing in the case and zip it carefully, then walk to stand in front of where she is perched on the end of my bed. “I love you for being so protective. I really do. And I know your concern is coming from a caring place.”

She smiles.

“But seriously,” I continue, “if you try and ruin this for me I will kill you with an ax myself. Understood?”

Amanda snorts with laughter while Kate gapes at me like a fish. She nods slowly.

“Thank you.” I smile sweetly.

“What time did he say he’d be here?” she asks meekly.

“Ten.”

“Where’s he taking you?” Amanda asks.

“No idea. He didn’t say.”

“You didn’t ask?”

“I was just too excited by the invitation to even think about it.”

“So is it, like, a date?”

“Again, no idea.” I shrug. “The sensible side of me thinks, no way, absolutely not. Why would he be interested in me when I’m, you know?”

Amanda pulls a sympathetic face. I sit down on the bed and Kate turns so I am facing them both.

“But then there’s the way he looks at me. I’ve never been looked at like that before.”

“Like how?”

“Like…” I try to think of the words to explain it. “Like he thinks I’m the most interesting thing in the entire universe. Like he’s completely fascinated by me, and we could be standing in the middle of the Playboy Mansion and he’d still only have eyes for me.”

Kate and Amanda exchange an open-eyed look.

“Wow,” says Kate.

“I know. It’s hard to explain. I’m not really doing it justice.”

“Look, Ava.” Kate shuffles over to pick up my hands and look earnestly into my eyes. “If that’s the case, if he is developing feelings for you, you need to stop and think about where this is going. It’s only going to end in hurt, for you both. But especially him. I know you like him, but can you really start something knowing what the future holds?”

My shoulders sag. She’s right, of course.

“Besides, I think you already have so much going on that you need to focus your energies on. Your health, of course, and the wedding.”

“I don’t agree,” Amanda interjects loudly. “I say fuck it, don’t think about the future. Just make the most of the moment and if you enjoy his company as much as you say you do, then do whatever it is that makes you feel good and happy. It’s a hell of a cliché but it’s one you know all too well. Life is short. Don’t play it safe. Live wild.”