“Tell me what it is, and I’ll tell you if I can do that.”

“Well, I’d really love you to meet my family, but I know that’s too much for you just now. So I wondered if maybe you could meet Nikki and a few of my friends at our poker night.”

Tension and fear were already etched on Flora’s face.

“Don’t panic, and let me explain. Isy really wants to take you up on your offer of helping at the shop, but Nik would like to meet you first. She’s so protective after everything that’s happened.”

“I can understand that,” Flora said, while her insides were gripped with fear.

“Rather than make it a big formal thing, Nik suggested making it at our monthly poker night.”

“Where do you hold it?”

“Either at one of the houses or a private room at the casino, but this time we can have it anywhere that makes you more comfortable,” Mack said.

Flora had started to go through her rituals, so Mack got how big an ask this was for her.

“Hey, don’t be stressed. We’re just talking about it—there’s no pressure.”

“Who would be there?”

“Nikki, you and me, Annie and Jay, who you’ve already met—they’re married,” Mack said.

“I don’t know if I could cope, Mack. I’d really like to meet them if it wasn’t for my stupid brain.”

Mack said, “Your fears aren’t stupid. They’re completely understandable. How about you think about it for a while?”

Flora nodded. “I will.”

“The only other thing you’ll find hard is that it’s after seven o’clock.”

Flora jumped quickly and started to pace. “I don’t think I can do that, Mack. It’s too much.”

“Don’t panic, it’s just an idea.”

“But it’s important for Nikki and Isla,” Flora said.

“I did think about either hosting the party at my flat or yours.”

Flora shook her head. “I’m definitely not ready for others to come inside my house, maybe yours, but I don’t know. I’ll think about it.”

“That’s all I ask.”

* * *

Later that night Flora lay in bed after Mack went home. She started to read a book. It was so nice to have no noise coming from upstairs. But after five minutes she closed the book app. She had too much going on in her head.

Her visit to Dr. Carrson, being with Mack and explaining her difficulties, and also kissing her—it was all too much, and when she started to think about the poker night Mack suggested, her heart rate sped up, and tears of frustration tumbled from her eyes.

“I can’t do this. I can’t be what Mack wants.”

She pulled a tissue from the box by her bed and dried her eyes. Calm down.