She and Gabi had been going to salsa classes for six weeks now, although, much to Gabi’s annoyance, Anna had insisted on going to the Tuesday night class instead of the Wednesday night one she knew Jeremy attended. However, once a month, the salsa school held a ‘party’, an opportunity for students from both classes to mingle and practise their moves in a more informal atmosphere.

Anna had cried off the January salsa party, but Gabi had been determined that neither of them were missing the February one, especially as it had been scheduled to coincide with Valentine’s Day. It didn’t take a genius to understand there were certain milestone days every year Anna struggled with. She had done her best to reassure Gabi she’d have a much better evening staying home, out of the way of ‘loved up’ couples, and starting the dark drama series that was next on her ‘to watch’ list, but Gabi hadn’t taken no for an answer, so off to the Civic Centre they’d trotted.

Gabi’s night had gone well – she’d snagged the attention of Lee, the guy she’d had a crush on since the previous party – but Anna’s night had been… Well, not what she’d expected.

Jeremy had been there. She’d been prepared for that. He’d asked her to dance. She’d expected that too. He’d been charming, making her laugh about carrying on with salsa instead of joining his sister in her latest fitness craze (Burlesquercise), but when the song had finished, he hadn’t lingered. In fact, he’d gone straight off and danced with another woman. Anna had got the distinct impression he was just being chivalrous, that she was just one in a long list of wallflowers he’d decided needed rescuing. For some reason that had irritated her.

But what had she been expecting? That with all her joie de vivre and sparkling conversation, a catch like Jeremy had been pining away for her for the last six weeks? That he’d come along that night in the hope of seeing her?

It was fine. She didn’t want him to want her. And she certainly didn’t want him, nice as he was. However, despite all her breezy inner protestations, as she’d watched him execute moves far above her skill level with a girl with a very swooshy ponytail, she’d been aware of a door slamming shut inside herself. A door she hadn’t even known had been open.

That was the moment she’d decided to make her excuses to Gabi and head home.

When Anna walked back inside her house, it seemed empty, even though all her possessions were still exactly where she’d left them. Nothing was missing. Except, maybe, the card that should have been on her mantelpiece, the flowers that should have been in the vase on the dining table. There was no Valentine’s fizz in the fridge, and there would be no laughter and warmth between the sheets of her bed when she finally crawled into it later on.

She missed him so much.