I look around for a drinks menu but there doesn’t seem to be one.

‘Gin and tonic?’

‘Um… sure. So you still drink alcohol—’

‘Yes, Dom. It’s not going to kill me. I’ve set myself a two-drink limit, which I live by.’

He looks at me uncertainly for a moment, then turns to the hostess. ‘One of your best local gins with Fevertree, and I’ll take a Campari and orange. Oh, and can we look at the menu now?’

‘Of course, sir.’ The hostess backs away and disappears from the room.

‘What’s this place called?’ I ask.

‘Addington’s.’

‘Haven’t heard of it.’ I take out my phone and google it. ‘Dom. This is a Michelin starred restaurant. What are you doing? It’ll cost a fortune.’

‘Sshh.’ He chuckles. ‘Here come our drinks.’

I quickly put my phone away and thank the waiter as he serves our drinks and hands us a menu each, then melts into the background as quickly as the hostess.

‘Cheers.’ Dom holds out his glass and I clink it.

‘Cheers. This place is incredible. You shouldn’t have done this.’

I glance up from my menu and catch him gazing at me adoringly. It’s a look I was so used to until a few months ago – and that I missed so badly when he disappeared from my life.

‘Stop it,’ I complain. ‘You’re making me uncomfortable.’

‘Am I?’ He reaches across and takes my hand, stroking it affectionately.

‘OK, not really. But it’s just a bit weird having no contact for ages, and now this.’

‘Sorry, you’re right.’ His expression neutralises but he keeps hold of my hand, squeezing it gently. ‘I’ve just really missed you, kitten. You don’t mind me calling you that, do you? What’s a few months apart when we had six amazing years before that?’

‘I guess… I don’t know. Maybe I need to get used to you again. You know, sniff you like a dog.’

‘And that’s why I love you. Your ability to ruin a moment with an image of us sniffing each other’s arses.’

I stifle a snigger. ‘That’s not what I meant. I meant like when you hold your hand out to a dog to let it get used to you before you pat it.’

‘I know. I just like to see you squirm.’

‘You bugger.’

‘How was your date earlier?’

‘Oh, err… it was… fine.’

‘Just fine?’

‘Dom, please.’

‘I’m just keen to understand the competition. Because he is competition. I can tell by the way you’re acting.’

‘It’s not… I can’t… now you’ve really got me squirming in my seat. Did you bring me here to do this?’

‘No. Definitely not. But we both know you went on a date earlier. Just talk to me. We’re both adults. You know I dated during our time apart. A couple of dates started well and I thought I saw some kind of potential. But as I got to know them, I realised they weren’t right for me. And that you are.’