She went into the living room. ‘I’m going to have a glass of wine,’ she said, perching on the edge of the sofa. ‘Do you want one?’

‘Absolutely not,’ said Rav. ‘I don’t know how you can.’

‘I didn’t drink as much as you did last night.’

Rav got up and immediately stubbed his toe on the coffee table. He swore, then kicked the table, which obviously hurt even more. ‘This fucking flat.’

‘Is that what this is really about?’

‘What?’

‘The sulking. The mood. Is it because of the stuff Guy was saying last night, about them having the extension done and turning the basement into a gym?’

‘I don’t know what you’re talking about.’

‘You’re jealous. Of the house. You get upset because they’ve got that huge place and we’re renting this one.’

Rav frowned. ‘I don’t care that they’ve got a big house. I’m happy for them.’

It took all Chloe’s self-control not to roll her eyes. Rav was not happy for them. At all. He and Guy had been casually competing with each other ever since they’d first met in their last year at uni, gently spurring each other on. One of them would edge ahead by getting promoted or shaving five minutes off their run time, and the other would be inspired to do better, to earn more, to move faster. But then Guy’s ancient grandfather had died and left Guy a small fortune, which, combined with Lissy’s not insubstantial salary, had secured them a breathtaking town house, the likes of which Chloe and Rav could only drool over on Instagram.

Chloe didn’t care especially. But Rav did. And the unspoken echo that surrounded Rav’s misery was the fact that if Chloe earned proper money like Lissy, rather than the pittance (Rav’s word, not hers) she took home from teaching, they would be able to afford something much more impressive.

Chloe decided that today was not the day to get into an argument about it. ‘It’s normal to be jealous of other people. They both had shit tons of help from their parents. We don’t have that. My parents haven’t got any money, and yours don’t want to give us any, which is completely fine.’

‘They offered.’

‘What?’

But Rav had gone into the kitchen and didn’t seem to hear. He reappeared a few minutes later with a mug of tea for him and a glass of wine for her.

‘Thanks. Your parents offered what?’

Rav was looking into his mug, avoiding her gaze. ‘My parents offered to help us get a house.’

This was the first she’d heard about it. She reached for the remote, trying to keep her tone casual and light. ‘But that’s good news, so why do you look so miserable?’

‘If we get pregnant.’

Chloe’s finger hovered over the ‘on’ button. ‘I’m sorry?’