‘And you worry that it will go that way with Matt when you tell him.’

‘That’s if he sticks around long enough for me to find out.’

‘I do get it, Lex. But you’re now in a relationship that’s not open and honest. Leave it much longer and you’ll definitely lose him.’

I sigh heavily. ‘I know. OK, let’s stop focusing on my mess and talk about your hot date with Sammy this morning. How was it?’

Her expression immediately turns dreamy. ‘It was amazing. He’s so bouncy and full of life. Such a sweetheart too.’

‘It’s like you’re describing your mirror image.’

‘You know, we are kind of similar. Apart from the band thing. I can’t believe I went on a date with the lead guitarist in a band.’

‘And now you’re having lunch with the lead vocalist.’

‘Right? It’s just so cool, this whole band thing. I want to be a proper groupie. Sooo can’t wait to move down here. Sammy’s already offered to help me move.’

‘Wow, he is a fast mover. Though as he was imagining your children two minutes after I introduced you, not sure why I’m surprised.’

Sasha beams and turns scarlet. It’s so good to see her happy.

‘Did you kiss?’ I ask.

Her expression deepens to a shade of beetroot. ‘We did.’

‘It’s OK. Matt and I kiss too. It’s what grown-ups do.’

‘Stop it, Lex.’

Chuckling, I say, ‘I’m sorry. I’m done. Promise.’

Sasha purses her lips and looks at me as if she wants to say something but is unsure.

‘What is it, Sash? You can talk to me about anything, you know that.’

Sasha squirms a little in her seat. ‘I was actually just wondering… you know how you suffer from that fatigue and can’t do much by way of exercise…’

‘Yeah?’

‘Well… how do you… you know, do the deed with Matt without your symptoms getting in the way?’

I let out a snorting laugh as I take in Sasha’s cringing, mortified-but-not-enough-to-not-ask-the-question face.

‘Let’s just say that good sex doesn’t need to resemble a gyrating Duracell bunny.’

‘Right. Good.’ Sasha’s now so red her face is almost indistinguishable from her hair.

‘Shall we go?’ I grin.

‘Yes, please.’

Chapter 30

The next day, I’m back in the office, dragging myself around due to an unexpected worsening of my fatigue, my head thick and woolly. My walk to work felt more like a climb, despite the gentleness of the gradient, and I’m a bit clammy, even just sitting in the ambient temperature of the boardroom. It’s another of my leadership programme events – a group development day with my fellow participants – so I’m determined to ignore my symptoms and make the most of it.

‘Morning, all,’ Terrence, our programme facilitator, greets us. ‘Today we’re going to get our first sense of your practical leadership skills. You’ll be split into three groups and each team is going to take on a real-life business challenge. You’ll work on this throughout the day, then we’ll bring you back together later to present your ideas to John Chambers, your company’s chief exec.’