‘Okay, I think?’ I took a swig of orange juice to buy myself time. ‘He’s told me he’s flirted a little and that it’s been nice to have that …’ I pulled in a greedy mouthful of air. Flirting is nothing, I reminded myself, because look at what I’d done already. Then, as though that early flicker of guilt weren’t uncomfortable enough, I thought back to the woman’s business card burning a hole in the front pocket of my backpack. ‘Yeah, that’s all he’s said about all this, really, only that it’s been nice. But that he also misses us being as close. I guess, I don’t know, I think I’ve put some distance between us since all of this started.’

Faith squeezed my hand. ‘Which is allowed.’

‘No, I know. It’s not exactly an organic situation, is it?’

‘Babes, is there any chance at all of you letting yourself enjoy this a bit?’ Betty used a softer than usual tone. ‘I’m being serious now. He might miss you, there might be distance, yada yada, but if you’re both going to make the most of this, you need to actively be putting yourself out there, you know? Men won’t just come to you.’

‘No …’ I lingered over my agreement. But women might. ‘I think I’ll just see what happens, Bett. I tried the online thing and Christ, it’s rough. Like, Rowan will howl with laughter when I work up to telling him about it. And I know everyone thinks I need to throw myself in that bit more, but …’ From across the table I saw Lily’s head snap up like a meerkat who’d spotted a keeper. ‘What?’

‘Nothing. Finish what you were saying?’

‘Only that I’ll just let it happen, that’s all. I’m not forcing anything.’

‘No.’ Cora wiped her mouth. ‘But is that what Rowan’s doing?’

Lily, who had been looking behind me this entire time, dropped her gaze. She rested an elbow on the table and covered her face. Meanwhile, Faith, Betty, Molly and I all craned to look around. And there was Rowan. His housemate Monty had walked in ahead of him, holding hands with a woman I didn’t recognise. He’d never been the serious dating sort, not in all the time I’d known him, but he had a smile slapped on and he was sharing laughs with the woman like they knew each other well. Rowan trailed in behind him, walking next to another woman – only next to her, admittedly – but they were suspiciously close. She was taller than me, taller than Rowan, too, and she had blonde hair that looked to have been straightened, with the occasional whisp of frizz starting to break free. She wore jeans more fitted than any I owned and a loose T-shirt that looked …