Nicky had noticed the frown on Jane’s face, but didn’t really think much of it.

‘She wouldn’t be jealous, would she?’ Mark asked.

‘Of the book? No way.’ Jane couldn’t be jealous. She was almost as happy about it as Nicky was.

‘Of that? Of us?’ He shrugged.

Nicky stared at the door of the restaurant, as if she could still see Jane’s silhouette weaving through the dark night outside. There was nothing about her best friend’s behaviour that seemed odd. At least, she didn’t think so. Maybe the wine had gone to Mark’s head. Though, she did make a comment about Nicky not having time for old friends anymore now she was going to be famous. But that was just a joke. Surely.

Back at their flat Mark dragged Nicky into the bedroom.

‘Come now, my fiancée. Show me how much you love me.’

Nicky liked the sound of that. His fiancée. She belonged somewhere now. With someone.

He kissed her strongly and they fell into bed.

In the dim light of the moon Nicky sat on the balcony wrapped tightly in a blanket. Mark had fallen asleep hours ago but she was still restless, the excitement of the night still buzzing through her. She pulled out her phone and looked at the last picture of her mother, taken in the nursing home, just after her seventy-seventh birthday.

It made Nicky’s heart ache that her mother wouldn’t see her get married. At thirty, Nicky wasn’t exactly old, but her parents had had her so late in life. They were forty-seven and fifty-five when she was born, and by then they’d all but given up hope of having children. Nicky was their miracle baby and they were wonderful parents. But they weren’t young and two years ago her dad had a heart attack. Then the following year her mum was diagnosed with cancer. And just like that, Nicky was alone in the world. No siblings. No family.

But now she had Mark.

His soft snoring floated through the apartment and she hugged her knees tight to her chest, savouring the sound.

She opened her Messenger app and typed out a quick note to Jane. She was sure there was nothing to Mark’s earlier concerns, but Jane was the closest thing to family Nicky had after Mark, so it was better to be safe than sorry.

‘Hey. Sorry about bailing tonight. Are you free next Thursday? Coffee?’

She looked at her screen and held her breath. No response.

Of course not. It was the middle of the night. Jane was probably sleeping. Nicky was worrying about nothing.