Darcy wishes she could pretend she didn’t know about Zoe landing the producer role on Smith Street, but it would be impossible for Darcy to have not heard about it. ‘Yeah, I saw online that you’re doing really well. Congrats.’ The words feel like glue in Darcy’s mouth.

Zoe tosses her head. ‘Oh, the media have been all over it, haven’t they?’ She makes a face implying she has no idea why people would be interested in her. ‘It was one interview after the next for a while there. I was sick to death talking about myself.’

‘I doubt that.’ Darcy smiles lightly.

Zoe ignores the comment. ‘Anyway, enough about me. What about you? Are you working in TV?’ There’s hesitation in her voice, as though she’s waiting for Darcy to say she’s now a checkout chick or working in hospitality, code for waitress.

Drew takes her hand and she feels warmed by this. ‘Of course she’s working in TV,’ Drew says like Zoe is some kind of idiot. ‘Tell her, babe.’

Zoe looks at her intently, no doubt waiting to compare their achievements. Darcy wishes for a moment she could claim to be working on Sixty Minutes or even a movie. ‘Field producing on The One,’ Darcy says as brightly as she can, waiting for the judgement. She partly feels angry with herself for not just being proud. She loves her job.

Zoe smiles, clearly satisfied. ‘Oh, reality television. I’ve never done that. I imagine it’s a hoot.’

Darcy knows that by ‘hoot’ Zoe’s implying it’s not a serious TV job. And honestly, who else their age uses the word hoot?

‘Not everyone is cut out for reality TV,’ Drew comments, with an expression that suggests he doubts Zoe would be any good at it. Darcy almost laughs.

‘So, you two are still together?’ Zoe asks. ‘Dean, wasn’t it?’

‘Come on, Zoe, you’re not that important that you can’t remember my name,’ Drew says, more amused than offended.

Darcy’s a little surprised by Drew’s comment and by the look on Zoe’s face, she’s been taken off guard too. These days she probably isn’t used to anyone challenging her.

‘Drew, of course. It must have just slipped my mind for a moment.’

Darcy feels herself smile. Seeing Zoe even slightly flustered for half a second is still as enjoyable as it was at university.

‘We’re engaged, actually,’ he tells her.

Darcy wants to puff out her chest proudly—marriage is, after all, a grown-up thing to do—but instead she feels her neck tense. Zoe probably views marriage as some kind of failure, that instead of concentrating on her career, Darcy has been sidetracked by a relationship.

‘Congratulations then, I guess.’ The way she says I guess confirms her opinion of marriage is fairly low.