I roll over and stare at the ceiling, hands behind my head. James is a nice enough bloke, as far as I can see. Easy-going, stable, a proper grown-up – all the usual stuff. We’ve exchanged pleasantries in the kitchen a couple of times over the past few weeks since Jess started seeing him, and I think I’ve done a pretty good job of hiding how I feel. Feeling anything wasn’t on my list of things to achieve this year. I’m not quite sure how Jess snuck in under the radar, but I have, in fact, decided the best way to deal with it is to just face up to their relationship head on (because Jess is a friend, and therefore I am – like a good friend – very happy that she has met someone nice), so I’ve suggested to Jess that she bring James on one of our London walks. We’re going to head up to Hampstead at the weekend and take a wander round. We’ll have something to talk about, a set route, and an end point at the pub, where I can have a pint with them, then leave them to it and head back home to my room.

And then I’ll have a cold shower or punch a pillow or something like that. Yep, completely sorted. Everything is under control.

Chapter Thirty-Two: Alex

Chapter Thirty-Two

Alex

15th September

All we have to do is take a walk around Hampstead. Normally, we would set off from home, jumping on the bus or the tube as necessary, grabbing a coffee on the way, and then walking, soaking up the atmosphere. But this time, with James joining us, Jess has switched things around. I think she’s probably feeling a bit edgy about it. Maybe I’m reading too much into it. Anyway, she’s suggested we meet at Kenwood House instead, and set off from there.

‘You off out?’ Emma says when we meet in the hall as I come downstairs.

I nod. ‘You look nice. Off somewhere interesting?’

Emma flips her long dark hair over her shoulders and smiles. She knows she looks good. I like her for that. ‘A third date, actually.’

‘Nice.’ Is this awkward? I wonder. But, you know what? I think maybe it’s okay.

‘Yeah.’ She looks at me for half a moment with an odd expression on her face, and then she grins. ‘He’s a lawyer, funnily enough.’