‘I think…’ I look out the window at the twinkling city lights, wondering how to politely decline ‘…it sounds amazing. But being perfectly honest, I’m not sure I’m good enough and I get stage fright. I probably couldn’t make the commitment right now anyway.’

‘The commitment issue I can’t help with. But having seen you, you’d get over the nerves quickly, and you need to dispel any doubts as to your talent. When I said my mate wondered if you fancied auditioning, what he actually said was “Matt, if you know her, you need to get her to my rehearsal studio – whatever it takes”.’

‘That would be a lovely compliment if it didn’t sound a little sinister.’

‘Yeah, maybe I shouldn’t have shared it verbatim.’ Matt swirls the ice round in his drink. ‘But you weren’t responding to the diluted version.’

‘True. Well, thank you, that is high praise. But as much as that would be like my younger self’s dream come true, I’m just not sure I can. My job is full on. I’ve just been nominated for their leadership talent development scheme, which is going to be all-consuming.’

‘Wow. I really am in the presence of a superstar. I thought you had to drink two pints of blood, sacrifice a llama and master an impossible handshake to get on corporate schemes like that.’

I snigger with amusement. I love Matt’s quick-witted responses and how he keeps me on my toes with his slick banter (when he’s not getting all tongue-tied like me).

‘That may be the case in some places but the company I work for is actually really great. So is my manager. Can’t believe how lucky I’ve been.’

‘I’m sure luck is only a small part of it.’

‘It’s not, believe me. Back in Glasgow, I would have had to develop superhuman abilities to have made it on their talent programme. Though I did have a challenging role and other development opportunities, until…’ I trail off, realising I’m about to stray into difficult territory.

This has the effect of reminding me that while Matt has taken the ‘play no games’ oath, I’m not being completely up front with him. I don’t think I can be – not yet anyway. I chew my lip and stare out the window distractedly.

‘Hey, where did you go?’ Matt reaches over and places his hand on my forearm gently.

‘Sorry.’ I come back to the moment, my skin tingling in response to his touch. ‘Caught up in a weird memory there.’

‘Didn’t seem like a particularly pleasant one.’

‘It’s nothing. Office politics. You know how it is. Or maybe you don’t.’

‘Why would that be?’ He gives me a curious look.

‘Because you don’t work in a corporate environment.’

‘But I do work with people. Lots of people. With all sorts of different motivations and behaviours.’

‘Point taken.’ I lift my drink to my lips and drain the glass.

‘Another?’

I agree and Matt signals for the waiter. As he relays the order, I chase away the buzzy interference in my mind. When I talked this through with Sasha, it was so clear – it’s just dating, it doesn’t need to go anywhere. And if it seems like it will, that’s when I consider how I want to deal with it. If Matt’s the right man for me, he’ll understand why I held it back and he’ll see me instead of my illness. Surely?