‘He said you were really broken up.’ I try and stop my voice cracking.

‘Totally. Every time I did something that I used to do with her it came at me, bam. It’s shit, you know, you’re up and down all the time. I forgot that it was probably hitting him in exactly the same way, and we should have supported each other.’ He wrinkles his nose. ‘Not a very “guy” thing to do, mutual support, is it?’

‘I suppose not.’

‘We all lose people,’ he picks up the nearest book, stares down at it but I’m sure he can’t even see it. ‘That’s life, isn’t it? People can die, people can just walk out of your life. But I’m coming out of the other end now. I guess I’m trying to say,’ he looks me in the eye again, ‘I am there for Noah now. I can see him clearly again. It’s none of my business, but he likes you, Rosie.’ He nods. ‘Really likes you. Do you like him?’ He holds up a hand to stop me talking. ‘Because if you do, tell him. Please, for my sake, he’s being such a miserable bastard he’s doing my head in!’

‘Call him! Listen to the man,’ Bea shouts across the shop as she strides towards us.

‘Big ears!’ I say lamely, because I can’t think of anything else to say.

‘Er hi!’ Jed grins at Bea as she reaches us, balancing two large coffees. She grins back. Grins! Like, girlish grin, not normal everyday are-you-buying-a-book-or-not preying grin.

I seem to have been forgotten. Weird!

‘Hi! You’re early!’ She beams.

‘I’ll browse, while you drink your coffee. I was just chatting to Rosie about Noah.’ They share a conspiratorial look.

Early? What does she mean early? I stare at Bea looking for answers. She shrugs and laughs self-consciously. Bea is not a self-conscious person. Jed takes a backward step at my scrutiny.

‘Okay, what’s going on? Is this some kind of strategy to get Rosie a date, it won’t wor—’

‘Why does this have to be about you, Rosie?’ Bea passes me a coffee. ‘Get that down your neck. I think you need it you’re being so grumpy this morning.’

‘So,’ I frown at Jed, ‘you didn’t come in to see me?’

‘Er, no,’ he looks slightly confused, ‘I came to see Bea, though it was great to see you, and I did want to mention Noah if I did, er bump into you.’

‘You didn’t know I worked here, did you?’

He looks bashful. ‘No, not really.’

I laugh. He looks like a naughty child that’s been caught out.

‘So, what exactly are you two up to?’

‘A date,’ says Bea still grinning, ‘we met when I saw him and Noah out for a drink, and we had a chat – that was about you by the way if you’re feeling left out – and well, ta-da date time!’

‘You met Noah out, you never said! What did he say, did he—’ Ask about me is on the tip of my tongue, but that is dangerous ground. ‘Look okay, Jed said he’s fine, I’m sure he—’