‘You need somebody who’s your equal.’

I glare at him. ‘Like you, you mean?’

He ignores that comment. ‘He’s too weak, too nice. It’ll be yes Rosie, no Rosie until you’re screaming out for him to contradict you just once.’

‘What? Are you having me on here? He was fine until you butted in, Mr Macho!’

‘Or it could be a cover, devious.’

‘Oh, get lost, have you any idea how much of a dick you sound at the moment?’

‘He could actually be a bit of a player. If you punch above your weight you—’

‘What!’ I can’t help myself. I yell at him. ‘How dare you say—’ I’m so angry I’m speechless. ‘What the hell is that supposed to mean?’ Okay, I’m not completely speechless.

I fling my own towel over my shoulder, nearly flicking his eye out, and push past him. ‘You’re being ridiculous. Don’t you want me to be happy?’

‘Rosie, stop overreacting.’

‘Me! Overreacting. Me? Ha.’

‘Come back. I just don’t want you to lose confidence, to get hurt.’

‘I won’t,’ I say, not even turning around. I won’t. I’m more likely to be hurt by Noah than Steve, but I don’t voice that. I’m too angry, and my triumph has completely died away to be replaced with the feeling that I am about to burst into tears.

This is just like so many times Dad has undermined my decisions, told me I’ve got it wrong, even when I’ve been trying to please him. Just like I was trying to please Noah.

They’re two chips off the same bloody block, and I’ve done it again – thought if I tried hard enough it would all be okay.

I hate Noah. I wish I’d never met him. I don’t know why I thought I could do this, why I was beginning to think he might actually not be as bad for me as I’d originally thought.

Always trust your first instincts don’t they say?

Wednesday night

‘I’m sorry. Truly. Still on for tomorrow night? N’

‘I just don’t want you to get hurt. N x’

‘He looks okay, I was just taken by surprise N xx’

‘You’re doing great, amazing. You’ve got this cracked – just sorry I’ll soon be losing my best student far too soon. I’ve taught you too well ☹ N xx’

I sigh. I can’t just ignore Noah, but he has truly pissed me off. The whole purpose of our seeing each other was for me to get a date, wasn’t it? Shouldn’t he be happy I’ve managed to do that? I don’t get him at all. And I don’t get why it’s upset me so much that he’s been such a miserable git.

I’m normally quite a rational, logical person. This is the point at which I should just tell him that he’s achieved what he said he would, and I should just walk away. I am now a graduate of the school of seduction. I am a fledging seductress.

I just don’t feel like one.