‘The Waterside Bistro in town.’

‘Is it likely to be filled with millennials and noise?’

‘I don’t know, Richard. I haven’t been for well over a year.’ I ensure he gets the gist of my comment. I haven’t been out properly since Nick and I split up.

‘Okay, I’ll do whatever pleases my lovely Amber,’ he says and lowers his lips to mine. Sealing the deal? Why do I feel disappointed and hurt by this visit so far? It’s not how I imagined it would be. I hope he bucks up his ideas and we have a good evening. I honestly want to say, ‘Don’t make yourself do anything you don’t want to,’ but I hold back. I don’t want our first argument. Barb’s image pops into my head, her voice loud in my mind: Beginning relationships purely online must be such hard work. It’s not as though you’ve much to go on, is it? You never really know what you’re getting.

I’d hate for Barb to be right.

Chapter Forty-One

Amber

‘We finally get to meet Mr Darcy!’

‘Shh, Jo, he’ll hear you.’ I widen my eyes in warning as I let her and Keeley in. ‘He’s not a Mr Darcy, anyway,’ I whisper. ‘More a Hagrid at the moment.’

Keeley frowns. ‘Really? That’s not how I pictured him,’ she says, winking.

I’m nervous as I walk into the lounge, my friends following behind. Richard leaps up from the floor where he’s been building Lego with Finley and Leo. I realise it’s Hogwarts. I hear Jo snigger as she notices too. I suppress my smile.

‘Richard, these are my good friends, Jo and Keeley,’ I say quickly to cover any awkwardness. I needn’t have worried though, as Richard immediately strides across to Jo, shakes her hand and kisses her cheek, then does the same to Keeley.

‘I’ve heard a lot about you both. I’m so pleased Amber has such great friends.’

After a bit of ice-breaking conversation: the usual discussions about jobs and family, Richard excuses himself from the room, saying he needs to make a quick call.

‘He’s a bit of all right, isn’t he?’ Jo nudges me, winking. ‘Must admit, his Facebook profile pic doesn’t do him justice. Barely the same guy.’

‘I’m pretty lucky, eh?’ I think I’m blushing.

‘He’s certainly manly and rugged.’ Keeley laughs.

‘And I’m glad you went for someone mature.’

‘Are you saying he looks old, Jo?’ I tease. I know that’s not what she’s meaning.

‘Not at all. He’s just got that wonderful air about him – assured and confident. He’s like a perfectly aged wine.’

I laugh, thrilled my friends seem to approve. ‘I agree.’

‘And you look stunning, Amber,’ Jo says, now giving me the once-over.