I sort of dipped in and out of the book club meeting. We’d read Behind Closed Doors by B A Paris and I’d liked it but it was the bit at the end of the session where people suggested books we should read next that I was interested in. I’d been thinking about it a lot and I wanted to share some of the books I’d enjoyed. It was a bit daunting because the other book club members were all quite opinionated and sometimes they talk over each other.

I had hoped Farah was going to be there but there was no sign of her by the time book club started. She had to come though because she was doing children’s reading time, which was getting uber popular.

‘Future reading suggestion,’ said Betty but she didn’t pause for breath or wait for anyone else to say anything. ‘I’m thinking we should try some literary fiction.’ There were mixed expressions around the table and not many of them looked positive. ‘Well, I think we need to go more highbrow. Expand our reading choices – that’s what a book club is all about. We hardly ever read literary novels.’

I cleared my throat. Not to get attention but because I didn’t want my voice to do that awful croaky thing it does sometimes. They all looked my way. Crap, I had to say something now. Maggie smiled and nodded encouragingly at me. ‘We don’t read much romance either. I wondered if maybe we should. You know. If you like.’ The faces seemed a lot happier about that, which made me feel good.

Betty didn’t look impressed. ‘I said highbrow, Tom.’ She gave a tinkly laugh. She was taking the piss.

‘Yeah. I know what that means. I just think something modern might be good too.’ Maggie was giving me a look. I swear she would have done a round of applause if she could. I reached down and put a book on the table. ‘The Flatshare by Beth O’Leary. It’s a romance but it’s different.’

Maggie leaned forward and read the strapline. ‘Tiffy and Leon share a flat. Tiffy and Leon share a bed. Tiffy and Leon have never met. Well I like the sound of that,’ she said clapping her hands and there were nods of approval around the table. Betty huffed a bit but she said it could go on the list. I leaned back on my chair. I felt like I’d won a little victory.

The door opened and I twisted quickly to see who it was. It was Farah. My chair wobbled and I almost toppled backwards. I grabbed the table and righted myself but the jolt sent water skidding across the surface and spilling all over Betty’s agenda.