Cora nodded, then, looked at Molly and shrugged. ‘Well, that’s fair.’

Faith tipped her head back to look up at me behind her. ‘It also answers Molly’s question.’

‘I didn’t get to a question.’

‘No, but you did want to ask how things are with Rowan and, or Fred,’ I weighed in, then raised an eyebrow and blew two kisses across to Molly and Cora. ‘The deal is ongoing. Apparently we’re both free to date who we want; we’re still engaged; we still love each other.’ I parroted the explanation out, but my level of conviction wasn’t quite right. I saw Cora flash Molly a look that I thought was a warning not to push, and Molly’s shoulders dropped, as though she were deflated – or beaten at something. ‘Honestly? I don’t know where I’m at with Rowan. We’re seeing each other a bit less than we were, but that’s not through lack of trying.’

‘On your part,’ Lily added.

I hadn’t said it, no. But it wasn’t an unfair addition. ‘Yes, on my part.’ I shrugged. ‘He’s busy, I guess, I don’t …’ I rubbed at my forehead. Over the last few weeks the girls had done a great job of asking all the safe questions, but I couldn’t blame them for wanting to know more – or, if nothing else, wanting to at least know whether I was okay with the hidden ‘more’ of mine and Rowan’s relationship. But the truth was, I didn’t have more to tell. Whatever he was thinking about our engagement, he hadn’t spent enough time in a room with me to say. But who wants to admit that out loud? ‘I’m sorry, I—’

‘You have somewhere to be.’ Betty stood up, then, and kissed me on the cheek. ‘I’ll walk to the door with you anyway. I need the loo.’ She gave me a gentle push. ‘If the waiter swings around, does someone want to grab another bottle of red?’

Cora and Faith said, ‘Yes,’ in unison, and Betty and I giggled our way to the exit.

‘It’s none of our business,’ she said, when we came to a stop.

‘No, but—’

‘But nothing,’ she interrupted again. ‘It’s none of our business. We’re not here to know the ins and outs, we’re just here to support you through them.’ She gave me another kiss on the cheek. ‘Tell Fred we said hello. Text me tonight when you get home safe? Or, you know, when you get wherever you end up.’ She winked and walked off then, and I hurried across town to meet the woman who would take me home that night …

*

Fred came back from the bar with an orange gradient drink in a tall glass, topped with an umbrella.

‘Sex on the beach?’ I asked, after the first sip.

‘That sounds like an offer.’