‘Besides,’ she continued, ‘I’ll have a much better evening having not kicked off about him showing up for half an hour. I don’t want to waste my last day on that kind of negativity. Plus, he’ll have to buy me a drink, of course,’ she added, now sounding less political and more like herself. ‘Let’s not forget that vital point. Obviously I’ll be choosing the most expensive cocktail on the menu.’ She winked at me and returned her attention to her lunch.

I looked down at the money still in my hand and then placed the note on the table, sliding it towards her. ‘OK, but I genuinely don’t want this,’ I said quietly.

Ruby sighed. ‘Him joining us is honestly the best decision all round, Edie,’ she said, taking the money and returning it to her bag.

‘If you’re happy with it, then it’s fine,’ I shrugged.

She put down her fork. ‘You know, you don’t sound like you really mean that.’

I shook my head. ‘I’d rather he wasn’t coming, but I meant it when I said: your evening, your choice. I’m just amazed he wants to come. He didn’t seem remotely keen last week.’

‘Not turning up wouldn’t look great for him, though, would it? He wants to win friends and influence people – to be seen as part of the team, one of the lads.’ She tutted at the phrase and my heart sank at her use of it, as my sense of exclusion increased.

Dejection must have been plain on my face because she reached out and patted my hand.

‘I’m sorry. I’m so grateful to be able to confide, but I feel like I keep making things worse for you,’ she said gently. ‘You were so happy about everything when you got back from your wonderful holiday, and so over the moon about getting the substation project. But now, with all this Cameron crap, and having to rent a room from your cousin, and Jason thinking you’ll come running whenever he snaps his fingers, I feel like I’ve never seen you so low.’