‘Brilliant. I’m in.’ I text her quickly, guessing they’re all sitting down to eat at hers now and imagining the chaos.

I’m about to throw the phone back on the bed when a Facebook friend request alert pings up. I click through and see it’s from Albie Montague, the new guy at work. We’ve spoken a handful of times as he’s the new Picture Editor and he’s wanted to discuss layouts, but nothing remotely personal. He’s added me now though and it’ll be too awkward if I don’t accept him, so I do and then click through to his profile. His picture is something else. Some people go for the relaxed vibe with their mates where they’re goofing around and having a laugh, but this is nothing short of Instagram/Tinder/anywhere-you-want-to-impress worthy. It’s cropped from mid-chest up, so no one can accuse him of being too revealing, yet it gives just enough to let you know that the full package is probably impressive. Firstly, he doesn’t appear to have any clothes on, so you can see the trimmed hairs on his chest which is also home to a curve of scrawling words tattooed in black. His dark eyes look straight at the camera, giving a seriously brooding expression. His beard is groomed to perfection, as is his swooping quiff of highlighted brown hair.

Hey!

Shit, he’s inboxed me! I guess I have to reply.

Hey you!

Up to much?

God, he’s starting a conversation now …

Testing out face masks. It’s all going on.

He adds a picture of him with someone who, I assume, is his mum. Both wrapped up in coats with wellies on. A cute little dog running in front of them.

That’s great. How have you been finding it at work?

Alright. Not too dissimilar to my last job. Just got to get to grips with the set-up and then get to know everyone now.

Yeah, that’ll help you settle in and make you feel more in with the team. Everyone is super nice. There are usually drinks on Thursdays actually. Great time to mingle.

Do you go?

It’s an innocent question, surely. Right?

Most of the time.

I’ll tag along with you then.

My heart does that funny thing in my chest that I’ve not felt for years. A rush of adrenaline that’s the result of someone else’s attention. I really want him to click through to my profile and see I have a fiancé, just to make my situation clear. Although he’s not asking me out so perhaps I’m the one being stupid.

Great.

It’s a date.

Oh fuck … although, it’s just an expression, right?