‘Yes!’ I blurt out before he finishes his sentence. Then feel like punching the air! I have just been asked out! On a date. A proper first date! ‘How can I say no when you just rescued me?’ I have completed my practical with flying colours, and a bonus – an actual date with a nice guy!

‘Great. Friday any good?’ I nod. Speechless. A date! ‘Pop your number in my phone, I’ll text you.’ He smiles, no doubt at my slightly dubious look. ‘Look forward to it. Steve, by the way.’

‘Rosie.’ I hold his phone out. We’re still kind of both clutching it when I feel the warmth of Noah’s hand on my back.

‘Everything okay?’

‘Sure.’ I grin at him. ‘Never better! But I think I’ve had enough exercise for one day.’ I wipe my sweaty hands down my leggings. Mission accomplished, exercise over!

Noah looks from Steve to me, then back again. ‘Did I miss something?’

‘We were just.’ Steve motions with his phone and looks flustered. ‘I didn’t think you two …’

‘We’re not,’ I say firmly.

‘She’s busy this week,’ says Noah at the same time.

‘My bad.’ Steve takes a step back.

I kick Noah on the ankle bone and am totally gratified when he gasps.

‘No, it’s his bad!’ I glare at Noah, daring him to say anything. ‘I’m not busy at all, I’d love to go out.’

‘Well, if you’re sure?’ He looks doubtfully at Noah.

‘Positive.’ I grind my heel into his toe for good measure. What has got into the man?

‘Great, er, I’ll be in touch later. Tonight. Bye. See you!’ Steve waves a hand, flings his towel over his shoulder and saunters off whistling.

‘Who was that?’

‘He’s called Steve. I’ve got a date. A proper date! I can’t believe it, I’ve done it!’ I hold a hand up to high five. Noah doesn’t. Which makes me feel a bit stupid, and angry.

‘What’s the matter? You should be pleased for me! You’ve done it, succeeded. After hardly any lessons!’

‘Fine. I am.’ His voice is stiff. ‘But you didn’t tell me.’

‘What do you mean, tell you?’

‘That you were going to, you know.’

‘No, I don’t know. Anyway, he saved me, when you were too busy pressing that blonde’s buttons to notice.’

‘Saved you? Oh, come on, don’t turn him into a knight in shining armour. We’re in a gym not a jungle.’

I frown at him. ‘You could fool me from the way you’re prowling about like a tiger with a sore head. What is the matter with you?’

‘Nothing.’ He stares back and looks slightly sullen.

‘It’s only a date! You told me to, you said it was today’s lesson!’

‘I told you to chat a guy up, not arrange a date! He’s not your type.’

‘Meaning?’

‘He takes boring and weak to a whole new level! I know you want safe, Rosie, but really?’

He might have a point, Steve does seem a bit, well, uninspired, even for me. But I’m not going to admit that to Noah. ‘I think I’ll decide that, and how do you know what my type is?’ I say coldly, trying to keep the quiver from my voice. ‘And anyway it’s a date not a lifetime bloody commitment!’