‘Is that what you do?’ I ask softly. Knowing it’s not fair to even ask.

He shakes his head. ‘I try not to hurt anybody, Rosie. I go out with girls who know the rules, who know it’s about having fun.’

‘It doesn’t always work like that, Noah. I think they sometimes forget.’

‘Maybe that’s why I need a break.’

‘Is it?’ I peer more closely at him. Has Noah decided that first-dating his way through life isn’t so perfect after all? ‘Have you, Noah Adams, seen the error of your ways?’

‘The only error,’ he grins, ‘is that your glass is empty.’

‘My round,’ I say, standing up.

Luckily the barman recognises me this time, and I’m not standing waving empties at him for ten minutes.

He smiles. ‘What have you done to Noah? Not seen much of him lately; he used to be a regular feature in here, propping up the bar.’

‘Nothing to do with me! I think he’s been busy at work.’

‘And there was I wondering if he was settling down.’

‘Settling down?’ It comes out as a croak. I open and close my mouth. Has Noah moved on from first-dating? Is he going steady?

‘You guys seem the real deal.’

‘What? Oh, haha.’ I cackle in relief. ‘You mean us?’ I point at my chest. ‘Us? Me and … Oh God, no. No! No we’re not dating, we’re friends.’

‘What a jerk.’

‘Jerk?’

‘Missing out on a girl like you! If you ever, you know …’ he leans on his forearms on the bar, ‘if you’ve not got a boyfriend, or girl—’

‘No! No, no boyfriend, girlfriend, any friend! Sure, great, maybe!’

‘Here, I’ll put my number in your phone if you like, just in case you fancy …’

I sashay my way back to the table and put the drinks down.

‘I did say I’d pick the guy for you to chat up!’ Noah shakes his head and raises his glass. ‘Guys like that are …’

‘I know, I know. It’s his job, pull a pint, pull a girl.’

He smiles. It’s like the sun coming out. Really. When he full-on smiles he makes the world seem a better place.

I expect him to chuckle, but he doesn’t. The smile fades and he looks slightly sad. Serious. His voice is soft, gentle. ‘You’ve got this cracked, haven’t you, Rosie? You really don’t need me anymore; you don’t have a problem chatting anybody up. And if I’m going with you to the party, then there’s no urgency …’

‘Oh, I don’t know.’ I match his tone. ‘I haven’t got a clue how to chat up the person I really want to.’ Or whether I would, even if I knew how to. ‘Noah?’

He nods.

‘Can we just forget me chatting anybody up, just have, I don’t know … just have a drink? As mates?’

He shrugs. ‘I don’t see why not. Could be nice.’

‘You can tell me about your sister.’

The smile comes back then. This time affectionate, not naughty or dazzling. ‘Our Gem, very aptly named! Not that she isn’t a pain in the arse at times, but you know, sisters.’