‘Bloody hell,’ I say. ‘You’re organised. Unpacking already? I always leave my case shoved under the bed for days after I get back from being away. Weeks, sometime.’ Shut up, you fool, you’re gibbering nonsense.

‘Oh.’ A strange expression flits across her face. She bites her lower lip and looks up at me. A long strand of hair curls across her face. ‘I’m not unpacking. I’m packing.’

Her hair’s escaping from a loose ponytail and falling in wavy tendrils around her face. She’s wearing a huge fluffy jumper that hangs off one shoulder and her legs are folded underneath her. She looks adorable, and slightly frazzled, and I can’t read the expression on her face at all.

‘Packing? Didn’t you just get back? Is your Nanna Beth okay?’

‘She’s fine. Really good, actually.’ Her face brightens into a smile, and she adds, ‘She’s been misbehaving again.’

‘She’s going to get into trouble,’ I say.

‘I’m just glad she’s back to herself. She’s doing really well.’

‘Oh that’s good news. You must be relieved,’ I say, conscious I sound stilted, formal.

‘I am.’

‘So what’s the case for?’ I ask.

She blushes slightly and drops her gaze. ‘James. He booked us a surprise trip for my birthday weekend. We’re going to Venice – tonight.’

Jess

I don’t think – if I’m really, truly honest with myself – I’d have let myself be as excited about James’s announcement, if it wasn’t for something Becky said. Or rather, what she didn’t say.

Having dumped my stuff at the bottom of the stairs, I had walked into the kitchen just as she made a slightly pointed comment about the other night to Emma.

‘I don’t know what you’re talking about,’ Emma had said, popping an olive into her mouth. She was standing by the fridge, still wearing her coat. She’d turned around, spotting me, and closed the fridge.

Becky was standing with her back to me. ‘Just saying, you and Alex sloped off without even saying goodnight. Rob and I came back into the kitchen and the two of you had buggered off. It’s not exactly subtle, is it?’

‘Are you sure?’ Emma sounded unconvincing. ‘God. I was so pissed I don’t even remember. Oh, hi Jess.’

Becky spun around and looked at me with an odd expression.

‘When was this?’ I tried to keep my tone of voice casual. I felt a strange sort of dropping in my stomach.

‘Oh we all had far too much to drink one night when you were away, and it all got a bit messy.’ Becky lifted her chin slightly. Emma shot her a look. It was one of those looks – the let’s not mention this now kind.