We talk and laugh while he makes them, and I appreciate how careful he is, pouring exactly the right amount of batter in the pan, lifting the side gently to see if it’s done and turning it over with an expert flip. And once you get past his shyness, he’s funny and smart. Penny was right to set us up. He’s perfect for me. I stare at him, and will myself to like him romantically, to find a spark. I want to want him. To bundle up all the desire inside me and redirect it towards this lovely guy.

‘Sorry?’ I say, when I realise I missed the last thing he said.

‘I said, we could get tickets to see something at the Melbourne Film Festival later this year,’ he says. We’ve been talking about documentaries.

‘I’d like that,’ I say, then stop. Have I committed to a date? No, because we’re talking about an event that is months away. But I probably need to clarify. But maybe I will fall in love with him sometime between now and then.

He’s watching me and I feel like he can tell what I’m thinking, and my cheeks get warm.

He puts a plate of pancakes in front of me.

‘As friends,’ he adds.

‘Right,’ I say. I hope my face isn’t revealing too much relief.

‘I know we met through a set-up, but I think we could be good friends. I mean, good as friends. But also maybe good friends,’ he says, and then laughs nervously.

‘Me too,’ I say. This, this right here, is more evidence that I should be falling in love with him. Maybe I can see a hypnotist, or a love chiropractor, and get my feelings realigned.

‘Morning,’ Jesse says, walking into the kitchen, yawning and rubbing his hand through his hair so it sits up at a weird angle. He pours himself a glass of water, drinks it, and leaves the glass on the bench. This should be deeply unattractive to me. And yet…

Damn it.

I like him.

I like him so much.

I need an feelings exorcist.

Everyone else eventually wakes up and joins us, and Henry makes another round of pancakes, and Tristan puts on Lord of the Rings for ‘background ambience’ and then nearly faints when Harper says she’s never seen it and doesn’t know what a hobbit is. Lauren complains she can’t drive home because her hand is too sore to hold the steering wheel, and even though she said she wanted to stay a few days, she wants to go home today because she’s heard a rumour that some of her friends might be sending flowers for said cut hand (in response to some dramatic bloodied photos she posted to her social media late last night after the photoshoot).