They were embarking on dangerous territory now but she was not inclined to stop it. How long had it been since she’d had a conversation like this with a man? Since someone had admired her the way that Alan was doing? Oh God, she’d missed this feeling of power. She knew, in that moment, she could have him if she wanted him. Did she want him? She reached out and took his hand, stroking it with her own. He looked at it, and then at her, in surprise.

‘Do I have an effect on you, Alan?’

He looked terrified at first. He was so easy to read and she could see that he was torn between desire and loyalty. She was the type of woman that someone like Alan would consider way out of his league. Most men saw her like that. Jack was one of the only ones she’d ever met who was confident enough to think otherwise. All Alan needed was one small, gentle push in the right direction and he would be hers. She was finally in control again and it felt good.

She leaned forward and kissed him. Time stood still as she waited for his reaction. And then he put one of his hands behind her head, grabbed some of her hair and kissed her back. He lifted her up like she was as light as a feather and put her on the kitchen surface, spreading her legs and pushing himself in between them. He was more passionate than she’d been expecting. She had underestimated Alan Brennan. She closed her legs around him and kissed him back.

Afterwards, they dressed silently and sat side by side on the kitchen surface, next to their tepid coffees. The spark between them that had been so electric minutes before had gone and they were Angie and Alan again, two neighbours who had committed an unspeakable act.

‘Angie…’ he began, and then paused, not knowing what to say.

‘It’s my fault,’ she said. ‘I kissed you, I shouldn’t have done that. I’m sorry.’

‘Can we just pretend it never happened?’

‘I think that’s the best we can do.’

He left soon afterwards. How could he stick around and make polite conversation after something like that? The aftermath was a total anti-climax. She was just alone, again, cleaning the kitchen surface and wondering what in God’s name she had just done.

But somehow, she managed to convince herself that it was okay. She and Jack were even now, she told herself. He no longer had one up on her. She was no longer the victim. And as for Sophie, of course she felt bad but it was a one-off and it hadn’t meant anything to either of them. It would never happen again and telling her would only cause a whole lot of unnecessary pain. Sophie was the best friend she’d ever had and nothing would change that, not even this. In truth, no matter how selfish it was, she didn’t want to lose her.