‘Spoiled,’ Pip observed. They both nodded. ‘Still,’ his friend said as he took off the rest of his motorbike gear, ‘at least you get the benefit too. She could never afford this as a junior exec at Dunston & Bradley.’ It was implicit in his friend’s sentence that neither could Jake.

Pip looked round. ‘Although I doubt the lovely, thrusting Ms Chandler will stay junior for long.’

It seemed weird to hear Pip talk about Neve like that now they were officially a couple. They’d still have to keep it quiet in the office, but a few select people were now in the know. Lyssa, unfortunately, wasn’t yet one of them.

‘So where’s Neve gone?’ his friend asked.

‘Dunno, mate,’ Jake admitted, trying not to sound too morose. ‘Clubbing somewhere. She went off with a gaggle of giggling girls in a taxi and told me not to expect her back until late.’

‘Mmm,’ Pip said. ‘And she’s been out all day?’

‘Yeah.’ Jake shrugged it off. ‘She already had plans. And she’s doing this Everest-trek thing soon, so she’s spending hours in the gym.’

‘She was telling the guys in the office about it a few weeks ago.’

Jake felt piqued as he wondered why she hadn’t told him as it seemed to be common knowledge.

‘You wouldn’t catch me hauling my arse up to Base Camp. It must be freezing up there,’ Pip continued with a mock shiver. ‘What’s the point?’

‘I suppose she’s doing it for the challenge.’ Though he couldn’t quite see the attraction in it himself, Jake felt more than a bit put out that she hadn’t asked him to go with her.

‘Sounds insane.’

‘That’s today’s women for you,’ Jake said sagely.

‘But not quite the romantic start you’d imagined?’

‘No. Not really.’

‘Well, you didn’t want clingy anymore. You didn’t want dependent.’

‘I’m not complaining,’ Jake insisted a little too defiantly even to his own ears. He had some serious nagging thoughts at the back of his mind that wanted to know just how much solo training this trip would involve. ‘It’s just going to take some getting used to. Lyssa and I have always been so…coupley.’

‘And what “coupley” things would you have been doing tonight?’

Jake thought. ‘Staying in with a pizza and watching telly.’

‘I can cope with that. You can play couples with Uncle Pip instead.’ Pip settled himself on the sofa. ‘Mine’s a Hawaiian with extra cheese.’

‘Already ordered,’ Jake said and joined him. He felt pathetic that he couldn’t even entertain himself for one evening. ‘Thanks for coming over, mate.’

‘No worries. You’re a sad and lonely guy who’s been given the elbow by his new girl on their first weekend together. I’m glad I can be here for you. Besides, I was at a loose end myself.’