“You’ll think I’m stupid,” she said.

Confusion played out on Tania’s face.

“You know I was out with Kath tonight, right?”

Tania nodded.

“Well, we got talking about how Kath doesn’t have time for a love life now that her mum’s taken a bad turn again.”

“Oh, shame,” said Tania.

“Yeah. Well, anyway, it turns out Kath has found quite a…different way to deal with her situation.”

Tania raised her eyebrows.

“She’s visiting a lesbian sex club,” said Jacky in a rush.

“She’s what?” Tania’s expression switched from quizzical to incredulous in an instant.

“It’s not seedy or dodgy or anything like that. It’s run by this really cool dyke who makes everyone abide by a code of conduct, and it’s, like, this really safe place to go and meet other women who want the same thing.”

“Which is what, exactly?” Tania crossed her arms over her chest, sounding distinctly unimpressed by what Jacky was telling her.

“Hey, don’t get on your high horse! This is Kath we’re talking about. You know how decent she is. She’s hardly likely to hit some sleazy joint for a shag with a prostitute, is she?” Jacky’s voice was sharp in defence of her friend.

“Hey, it all sounds a bit odd to me.” Tania held her hands up. “Sorry, sweetheart, I don’t mean anything against Kath personally.”

“Well, anyway,” continued Jacky, slightly mollified and determined in a fatalistic kind of way to finish telling Tania about the club and her crazy plan. “The thing is, it sounds like she’s had some really good experiences there. All of the women know exactly what they are there for. They all play it safe, and yet they can all go and indulge in whatever kind of sexual experience they want with no questions asked.” She paused, choosing her words carefully. “So, the thing is, I kind of got this idea in my head after she told me, and I wanted to run it by you and see how you felt about it.”

Tania took a deep breath and gave her a dubious look. “Go ahead.”

Jacky ploughed on. “I want to use the club as a way to get you what I can’t give you.” The words sounded so loud in the room. Tania’s eyebrows rose slowly upwards.

“You mean…?” Tania’s voice was strained and hoarse, and Jacky winced in fear.

“I love you,” whispered Jacky. “And I want you to be able to have something you really desire.” Jacky trembled as unwanted memories pushed to the forefront of her mind. She quickly rammed them back where they’d come from, swallowing hard before continuing, “I thought we could go to the club and find you a woman who would let—”