I sighed. Just when things seemed to be going well between me and Max, I had to open up this can of worms. Hopefully he’d understand why I’d kept it from him and wouldn’t make it all about him, but I felt I didn’t know how he’d react to something like that.

Did I tell you he’s been looking up courses for me? I told Gem, hoping to move the subject away from my disastrous previous relationship.

What sort of courses?

Textiles ones. There are accredited courses I can do from home, in my own time. It’s not as good as going back to uni, but it’s a start.

Max found these for you? she asked.

I nodded. I told him about starting my degree but then dropping out to take care of Mum and make sure Anna finished her A Levels, and he said it was time for me to start thinking about my own dreams again.

Gem nodded slowly, a look of approval on her face. He might pass the test after all, this new man of yours, she told me. It’s about time the two of you came round to mine again. I’d say it was your turn to host, but I don’t want to risk Max offering to cook, given what you’ve told me about his culinary skills.

I laughed, and Gem gave me a wink as she went up to the bar. My head was swimming slightly; I wasn’t used to drinking so much, but I took a glass from her anyway. It was about time I let loose for a bit, and I didn’t have anywhere better to be. As we moved back towards the dancefloor, I wondered if I could use this encounter with Mike to finally shake off that part of my life and move on.

Chapter 27

I closed the taxi door quietly, aware that it was one in the morning and many people on my street would be fast asleep. Fumbling in my bag for my keys, I didn’t notice the shadow next to the doorway until it was too late.

‘Where have you been?’ Mike asked, his eyes roving all over my body. ‘Have you been out?’

I could tell from the slight slur in his voice that he was drunk.

‘What are you doing here?’

‘Who were you out with?’ he replied, not answering my question. ‘Do you have a new boyfriend? You do, don’t you. Who is he?’

‘Go home, Mike.’

He shook his head like a dog trying to get water out of its ears. ‘Just tell me, Paige. Who is he? Do you love him? Are you living together? No, then he’d be here. Who is he?’