When I got up to my room I’d flopped down on the bed with a groan. If things were back on between Emma and Alex, it was a fairly obvious sign. I needed to stop half-wondering if there was something between us, and work out what it was I wanted in my own life. And if a weekend in Venice wasn’t a good way to start that, I didn’t know what was. I opened my wardrobe and tried to decide what to pack.

‘Oh my God, that’s the most romantic thing EVER.’

Sophie hadn’t even waited to message back when I shared the news on our little group chat. She’d dropped everything and called. I was on the train back from Bournemouth. I have to admit that it’s sweet that James couldn’t resist the urge to tell me before he saw me in person at the station when I got home to London.

‘How are you feeling?’ I said.

‘Like death.’

Oh yes. There’s another thing – a pretty big one – that happened this week. It’s clearly some sort of cosmic shift, or something. I can’t believe it’s happened. Sophie is actually pregnant. Eight weeks, which is early – I know that much, although I’m a bit hazy on the rest of the details – but she couldn’t resist telling us. Sometimes I find myself wondering if she’d carried on doing headstands after sex, and if that had been the thing that had done the trick. It’s a pretty weird image to have in your head.

‘I feel like I’ve got travel sickness but I’m not moving.’

‘That sounds awful,’ I said.

‘Ah, but it’ll be worth it,’ Soph replied, in a dreamy voice. I could already imagine Gen’s sardonic comments. It’s weird that we’re friends when we’re all so different. I guess that’s why it works. Plus I bet Gen’s going to be the best aunty you can imagine to Sophie’s baby. She’ll be taking it for exotic days out and introducing it to all her thespian friends at the theatre.

‘So what are you taking to wear? Where are you staying? Oh my God, you don’t think he’s going to get down on one knee, do you?’

I felt a leaden thud of fear in my stomach at that. ‘God, I hope not. I hardly know him.’

‘Jess!’ Sophie chided me.

‘I don’t mean “I hope not” like that, just . . .’ I felt a weird sensation at the idea of it. I mean I like James, and everything, but – the idea of settling down fills me with a vague sense of terror.

‘But he’s lovely,’ Sophie said. I know she’s very keen that we end up together. It’s very Sophie to want me to be with someone she’s selected specifically for me.

‘Oh yeah, yeah,’ I replied, nodding so vigorously that the woman sitting opposite me on the train looked at me as if I’d lost the plot. ‘Totally lovely. I just don’t think we’re quite there yet.’