‘But you must have been only…’ Anna worked it out in her head. ‘Sixteen?’

‘Yeah.’

‘That’s so young. Why didn’t you go?’

‘I nearly did, but the thought of carrying on my education in a foreign country seemed so daunting. Josh suggested I move in with his family; I spent so much time there anyway. After endless conversations between my parents and Josh’s, it was decided I’d stay in the UK until I’d finished my A Levels, but after I’d left school I wanted to go to the same university as Josh. My parents were cold people, distant. I’d never felt that close to them. They’d settled because Mum was pregnant with me but before that they’d always travelled. I felt I had tied them down. Josh and his family… I… I just belonged there. They put up with me every single uni holiday and after I’d finished my degree… Honestly, who’d want to trade the grey skies and constant dampness that is the north of England for a blazing sun and a beach on your doorstep, right?’

‘Right.’ Anna trailed a finger over my wrist. ‘But now you and Josh have a flat together?’

‘Yeah, just a small one. Despite our degrees, neither of us have high-flying careers. Josh temps – he never wants to be tied to anything or anyone – and I’ve been so focused on going away I guess I haven’t really made the best of the time I’ve had here. You’re happy living with your mum though?’

‘I am, but moving back home at twenty-four feels like a backward step.’ Anna sighed.

‘Where does Nell live? Could you share with her?’

‘No. She rents a house with a couple of girls she works with. I don’t think I could keep up with them. My liver couldn’t anyway.’

‘She’s certainly giving Josh a run for his money. Where did you meet her?’

‘Ah. Now there’s a story. We met during our first few days at uni. She was the drunk girl in the loo,’ Anna said.

‘The what?’

‘You know. In a bar there’s always a drunk girl comforting a complete stranger in the toilets. Telling her she looks amazing. That she is amazing. That the bastard who had made her cry isn’t worth her tears.’

I nodded although I didn’t know at all. It must be a girl thing. Still, it wasn’t hard to imagine Nell determined and vocal, flying the flag for female empowerment.

‘And that was your fiancé you were crying over?’ I asked.

‘Nah. He came later. I was crying over some random I’d met earlier that night who ended up snogging the face off of someone else. I was a bit drunk. A lot drunk. Fresher’s week.’ Anna shuddered.