‘Our hill? I like the sound of that.’ Then, after a pause, Minnie said, ‘Quinn, can I ask you something?’

‘Sure, anything.’

‘It’s a silly question Leila always asks on New Year’s Eve. It’s kind of a tradition – where do you want to be this time next year?’

‘Where do I want to be?’ Quinn paused for a moment. ‘I want to be right here, with you, on Primrose Hill, having a Weetabix picnic.’

She smiled, the kind of smile where you feel your muscles might soon tire from smiling so much. She turned her head to kiss his mouth. Kissing for Minnie usually came with a degree of self-consciousness. Beneath the physical connection there was always an awareness of what the other person might be thinking, of where it might lead, or that you might need to leave soon to get the bus. It was like reading subtitles while watching a film – your focus wasn’t always entirely in the right place. With this kiss, there were no subtitles. Her thinking mind surrendered to the pleasure of the moment.

‘What about you?’ he said eventually, his breath hot on her cheek. ‘Where do you want to be?’

‘I don’t mind where I am,’ she said softly. ‘As long as it’s you I’m kissing at lemming o’clock.’

She saw his eyes grow wide and he said in a strange voice, ‘Lemming o’clock? You? … I knew it was you … ’

And in the time it took her to realise what he meant, she leant in to kiss him again and the whole world folded into this small patch of grass on Primrose Hill.

Acknowledgements

They say it takes a village to raise a child. Well, I think it takes a small town to publish a book. There are so many people I need to thank for their role in bringing this book into your hands. Firstly, to my wonderful, talented agent Clare Wallace at Darley Anderson, for helping me to become the writer I always wanted to be. I couldn’t ask for a better, more supportive co-pilot on my writing journey. Secondly, to my editors Sonny Marr at Arrow and Margo Lipschultz at Putnam Books, whose insight and input have elevated this book from a shop-bought ham sandwich, to a slow-roasted ham hock with all the trimmings. It has been a joy to work with such brilliant people, who care as much about my characters as I do.

I would also like to thank the whole team at Penguin Random House, especially the Rights team and the PR and Marketing teams. They have done a fantastic job putting this book out into the world. Without them, you would not be reading this.