‘Pleased?’ I echo in horror. ‘Of course I’m not pleased. I was livid! I told them to stop! Luke, you can’t think—’ I stop at his expression. He’s staring at his phone again, with a look of revulsion.

‘Aran’s just sent me another text for you by mistake,’ he says. ‘You really must tell him your correct number.’

‘Oh,’ I say nervously. ‘What does he say?’

‘He’s set up the meeting you discussed with the producers of Even More Beautiful,’ says Luke in an odd, toneless voice. ‘He’s told them you’re super-excited, and they can’t wait to meet you.’

I don’t believe it. I told Aran I wasn’t interested.

‘That’s nothing,’ I say hurriedly. ‘Don’t worry about it. It’s just a—’

‘I know exactly what it is,’ says Luke, still in the same odd voice. ‘It’s a reality show involving plastic surgery. Are you so desperate for fame, Becky? Are you willing to butcher your body to become a celebrity? Are you willing to leave Minnie and put yourself at risk of injury, or death, just so you can stand on the red carpet?’

‘No!’ I say, appalled. ‘Luke, I wouldn’t actually do it—’

‘So why are you having the meeting?’

‘I’m not! I told Aran I didn’t want to do it! This is all a mix-up.’

‘Why would Aran set up a meeting unless you’d expressed interest?’ His voice is inexorable.

‘I don’t know!’ I say desperately. ‘Luke, please believe me! I told Aran I wasn’t interested. I wouldn’t lie to you—’

‘Oh really? That’s a good one, Becky.’ He gives a short, ill-humoured laugh. ‘You wouldn’t lie to me. That’s a brilliant one.’

‘OK.’ I clutch my hair. ‘I know I fibbed about Minnie seeing Elinor. And Sage and Lois. But that was different. Luke, you can’t think I’d be willing to have plastic surgery on TV!’

‘Becky, to be absolutely honest,’ he says, his face hard, ‘I have no idea how your mind works any more.’

‘But—’

‘Where Ladeee?’ Minnie interrupts. ‘Where Ladeee gone?’

Her little face is so innocent and trusting that with no warning, I burst into tears. I would never, ever use her for publicity. I would never, ever put myself at risk for some stupid reality show. How could Luke think that?

He’s shrugging on his jacket and now he heads to the kitchen door, still with that distant expression. ‘Don’t worry about supper for me.’

‘Where are you going?’ I say.

‘My assistant had a place held for me on the midnight flight to New York. Then I decided I didn’t want to go till the morning. But I don’t know why I’m waiting around. I’ll see if she can still get me out tonight, then I can hook up with Gary.’

‘You’re leaving?’ I say, stricken.

‘Do you care?’

‘Of course I care!’ My voice wobbles perilously. ‘Luke, you’re not listening! You don’t understand!’

‘No,’ he lashes back. ‘You’re right. I don’t. I don’t know what you want or why you want it or what your values are any more. You’re lost, Becky. Completely lost.’