Jack threw his head back and laughed and I tried not to focus on the wave of happiness that always rushed through me at the sound.

‘I’ll do some more training with him over the weekend to keep him away from the pond. How’s that?’

‘That would be great, thank you.’

‘No problem.’

‘What were you thinking about earlier when I made you jump?’

‘Oh… just how lovely it’s all looking.’ I smiled up at him.

Jack fixed me with a look. ‘I see.’ He was smiling, but I knew he didn’t believe a word I’d just said.

‘That smells good,’ said Jack, coming up behind me as I was dishing up dinner.

Fresh from the shower, dinner wasn’t the only thing that smelled good. As I turned around my eyes confirmed that, as usual, he looked even better than he smelled. I gave a quick smile of thanks, before gently moving him out of the way so I could busy myself with the final preparations for tonight’s meal.

‘Are you free for dinner tomorrow?’ Jack asked, as I motioned for him to sit.

I mis-stepped in surprise as I began to bring the dish to the table. Jack was up and out of his chair, taking it from me within an instant.

‘You OK? I’ve told you before if anything’s heavy, I’ll carry it,’ he said, setting the dish on the table and pulling my chair out for me before pouring us each a glass of the fizzy grape juice I’d set there earlier. ‘So, dinner tomorrow?’

I swallowed and began dishing us each up a bowl of the pasta puttanesca I’d made. ‘What’s the occasion?’

‘There isn’t one. I’d like to take you out as a way of showing my appreciation for all that you’ve done. And I just thought it would be nice.’

‘So long as we go halves.’

Jack put his fork down on the side of the bowl and took a deep breath, letting it out slowly as he spread his hands flat on the tabletop, stretching them before letting them relax.

‘I have to admit this is absolutely the hardest I’ve ever had to work to ask someone to have dinner with me.’

I didn’t know what to say so remained silent.

‘OK. I’m going to try again. Lily, I’d very much like to take you to dinner tomorrow night, if you’re free. And no, we would not be going halves.’

A swirl of emotions flooded through me. Did this mean anything? Was it purely to thank me for hosting him? Did that mean that he would be moving out soon?

Jack rubbed the back of his neck. ‘You’re taking longer than I would have hoped over this decision. If you don’t want to, then—’

‘I do. I do want to.’

‘You don’t have to look quite so terrified. It’s just two friends having dinner.’

‘Ha! I’m not terrified. You’re not that scary.’

Jack picked up his fork and made the motion of a circle around his own face before digging back into the pasta. ‘Try telling your face that.’