‘We said we’d try the gentle approach?’ Jo whispered, lighting a fire in my belly.

‘Is this some sort of mediation?’ I asked. ‘Are you kidding me? I’ve just been shat on from the greatest possible height and you’re all gathered here today to tell me … what? That you’re pleased about it?’

‘Hey,’ Bri said, her tone sharp. ‘We’re your girls. We suffer when you suffer, okay? So you don’t get to do that. You don’t get to act as if we’re the ones who hurt you. We didn’t. Your boy Alexander did, and we’re beyond mad about it.’

‘Furious,’ said Jo.

‘I’d cut his dick off,’ muttered Kezza. ‘The little prick.’

Jo changed tack. ‘But maybe this is a chance to see that you’re worth so much more than he gave you. If you’re at the place where you can hear us.’

I glanced up at her from under my eyelashes. ‘Go on,’ I said, sulkily. My heart beat in double time and my cheeks flushed. I knew what she was going to say before she said it, but I knew I had to hear it, too.

‘There was definitely a star of the show in your relationship,’ she said. ‘And it wasn’t you. I can’t speak for everyone else, but that made me sad for you! It was so obvious that he was your world, but it wasn’t as obvious that you were his …’

‘He’s very dreamy, but he’s not the sun – you are,’ Bri added, citing one of our favourite quotes from Grey’s Anatomy.

I swallowed hard.

‘Goddamn it,’ I said. My eyes welled up. ‘I don’t know what to do. I don’t know what happens after this. I thought this was my life sorted out. I can’t go back to having nothing. I’m too old to start all over again …’

I dropped my head into my hands and let it wash over me. Did I have to be strong? How long could I let myself feel weak? Was there a formula for moving forward? A secret ‘Jilted Brides’ handbook I could buy with next-day delivery?