‘My eyes are running from the onions,’ I add.

‘I assumed,’ he says.

‘Well, good luck for the big date,’ I say, because once you’ve started down the road of letting your brain make bad choices sometimes you have to just stay the course. My subtly snarky tone would be so much more effective without the weepy eyes and runny nose.

‘Yes, let’s hope it goes better than yours did,’ he says.

‘Henry and I are friends now, so it was a success actually,’ I say. Henry and Tristan have asked me to join their trivia team. Harper leaves the room to find her phone charger, and I narrow my eyes at Jesse.

‘You didn’t tell me you were going on a date,’ I say, in my most accusing tone.

‘We’re just friends, aren’t we? That’s what you said, isn’t it?’ he says, his eyes flashing with an emotion I can’t decipher.

‘Yes.’

‘So why do you care if I’m going on a date?’

‘I care, as a friend, in a friendly way.’

‘Well, as a friend, I’m sorry.’ He pauses, halfway through chopping a potato. ‘And I was going to tell you, I just haven’t had a chance.’

I open my mouth to say something in return, but Harper comes back, and I decide it’s better to stay quiet.

Jesse chats with Harper and looks so relaxed I am appalled. He should be tortured by what happened on the weekend. We kissed! Four days ago! He should not have the emotional capability to go on a date for at least a month, maybe two. I should be consuming his thoughts the way he is consuming mine. I have been secretly drinking my Sleepytime tea out of the ugly mug and I hung the framed map on my wall, for god’s sake. (I did draw the line at wearing the necklace, though.)

Harper is looking between us and pressing her lips together in a way I am trying not to take as disapproving.

‘So where are you going? For the date?’ I ask, because I’m a dog with a bone. Harper gives me a pitying look, which I ignore.

‘We’re getting a drink at a bar,’ Jesse says. A drink at a bar at night beats my coffee date during the day. Not that my coffee date even happened.

‘Have you been texting with her?’ I say. I sound like a jealous girlfriend, or a cop. Calm down. Be a tiny bit normal.

‘A little bit.’ Jesse bites a bit of carrot, and chews it noisily.

‘I’m happy for you,’ I say. I have no idea why I add this. I’m in the hole, and digging, I guess.

‘You’re happy for me?’ he repeats.

‘Yes,’ I say.

‘Great. I guess we’re all happy then,’ he says. His eyes burn into mine.

‘Extremely happy,’ I say.