“Nothing really. Regular hours. None of the hassles of management.” He laughs at the face I’m pulling. “Yeah, yeah, I can see what you’re thinking. But I want more input into the running of the practice. Anyway, it’s what I’ve always wanted at this stage of my career.”

I stand up and put my arms round his waist, rest my head against his shoulder. I love the fact that he’s so ambitious, so driven. Although a small, selfish part of me can’t help wondering how much less of him I’ll see if he becomes a partner. Having more responsibility and more money is all well and good, but that comes at a price. I dread to think how much his workload will increase if he ends up getting this partnership.

“Have you invited Gloria to the party?”

“Of course. I’ve invited all the partners and their other halves. I’ve even invited Smethers, my archrival.” He chuckles, but I know he’s only half joking. Andrew Smethers is his main competition for the partnership position. “You wait till you meet his wife. She’s had so much work done on her face she looks like an anesthetized fish.”

I laugh along with him, but, honestly, the closer we get to this bloody party, the more I’m dreading it. What are Ross’s colleagues going to think when they meet me? The girlfriend who doesn’t even have a job. I wish I’d never agreed to the idea in the first place.

“So how many from the surgery did you invite?”

“Everyone, of course.”

I take a step back. “Everyone? Oh my God, Ross! How many is that?”

“Don’t worry. They won’t all come. I could hardly invite some and not others. News spreads faster than norovirus in that place.”

His fingers stroke the back of my neck. “It’s such a pity all your friends live so far away.”

I nod. He makes it sound like there are loads of them, but after my parents and I moved to Dovercourt to make a fresh start, most of the girls at my new school had already formed their friendship groups. I made friends eventually, still see a few of them from time to time, still talk on the phone with them every now and again. But Callie’s teaching English in Spain now and only comes back a few times a year, and Becca’s based in Carlisle. I can hardly expect them to trek all the way to London for a housewarming party. I’m going to have to make some new friends. People who live round here. Like that girl I met at the open day. I should have taken her number, suggested we meet up.

“Lizzie? Are you okay?”

I stare at him in confusion. Why is he giving me that strange look?