She breathed in the scent of the sea and the cool evening air. ‘Long time coming.’

‘Yes.’

Looking up at the sky, she tried to let go and be here now and not to think back to the past. She was on a beach in Cornwall with a man she’d once loved. This was all good. It was different. Nothing ever stayed the same, not even the rocks they were standing on. She would enjoy the moment for what it was. Peaceful.

They stood in silence. Lottie was reluctant to break it despite all the questions racing in her mind. Above she picked out the plough and Mars. Ten years ago they had been lying on this beach, looking at the stars and kissing. What would it be like if she kissed him now? Nothing could ever feel like first love’s kisses. Everything was heightened, new and bursting with excitement. She shouldn’t be standing here thinking about that. It would never happen again. ‘Alex?’

‘Yes.’ His voice sounded almost sleepy.

She cleared her throat. ‘I’m not complaining, but why exactly are you at Boskenna?’

‘I wondered when you were going to ask.’ She heard amusement in his voice.

She turned to him, but he was just shadow now and impossible to read. ‘Well?’

‘Do you want the long or short version?’

‘Full, please.’

‘In which case we had better head up the path, as the tide won’t be high for another hour and already we will need to make a leap.’

‘Oh.’ She had been too lost in her thoughts and the stars to notice. He leaped and landed, and pebbles skidded.

‘Here take my hand.’

She reached for it before jumping and crashing up against him. His arms steadied her, and his breath tickled the skin along her neck. She couldn’t breathe, as though she’d been winded by the contact. Every cell in her came alive, reminding her of the past.

‘Thanks,’ she managed to say as she took a careful step away, conscious of the rising water behind her.

‘No problem.’ He let go of her. They would have to climb onto the wall as the way to the steps was covered in water. ‘I remember this as being easier.’ He levered himself up.

‘Just thinking the same thing.’ She took his hand again and scrambled to the top. Once she was stable, he released her hand.

‘You were going to tell me . . .’

He fell into step beside her. ‘Well, back in December I lost a close friend.’

‘I’m sorry.’ She let the back of her fingers touch his.

His fingers stilled, keeping the contact. ‘Thank you.’ He exhaled. ‘And it made me see how short life can be.’

‘Oh.’

‘And the more I thought about that . . . the more I realized that although I enjoyed London, I wanted to be in Cornwall.’ He moved his hand and cool air took its place.

‘Your job?’ She had no idea what he did. He’d been studying computer science.