“How long have you two been together now?”

“About eight months,” Jo said.

“I’m surprised you haven’t moved in yet.”

“Frankly, I’m a little surprised myself. Caitlin has asked me, and I practically live there. I stay with her about ninety percent of the time, but it’s hard to leave Camperdown. I’ve lived there ever since I moved to Sydney and as rickety as my flat is, it’s a good spot to have while I’m doing my PhD.” She sighed. “Or maybe I’m just not ready to move in with Caitlin. I’ve never been one to make an impulsive decision.”

“Do you know that bookshop on King Street. Annie’s?” Mia asked.

Jo nodded. “Of course. It’s a Newtown institution. I actually bought my now-signed copies of Caitlin’s books there years ago.”

“I was there this weekend and Annie was telling me how she has had yet another offer from Pages. One she is inclined to take. Not whole-heartedly, but because she’s not sure there’s a lot of use in fighting any longer.”

“Oh come on. Not Annie’s. Will there be no independent bookshops left in this city?”

The front door opened and Micky, Amber, and Lou walked in. Mia’s muscles tensed immediately. She wondered if Micky had had a chance to talk to Amber yet.

“How are you feeling this morning, Mia?” Micky asked. “Personally, I’m not feeling all too well.” She brought her hands to her head. “Your colleague drank me under the table last night,” she said to Jo.

“I know all about it.” Jo shot Mia a quick wink. “Too much information included.”

“I feel fine,” Mia said from behind the coffee machine, where she had taken the habit of hiding as best she could as soon as Amber and Lou walked in.

“At least that makes one of us,” Micky said and paid for the drinks. “We’ll be at our usual table.”

After Jo had brought the three of them their beverages—a pattern they had wordlessly fallen into because Jo had excellent intuition when it came to detecting tension, and Mia had made her understand, without trying to give anything away, that she was not comfortable serving Amber and Lou—she brought the subject of conversation back to Annie’s bookshop.

“I’m just as guilty as the next person,” Josephine said. “I haven’t been in there for a good number of months. Not that I ever have a lot of spare cash to spend on books I don’t need for work.”