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I can’t believe it. It’s really him. It’s Si Lowe, my brother’s best friend. He still looks just as I remember, but even more handsome now that he’s matured. He’s in his forties now, with laugh lines around his piercing blue eyes, a bit of grey threading through his dark hair on the sides, and a rugged jawline that seems even more defined. He’s wearing a black jacket over a T-shirt, paired with jeans and trainers. Ugh, I’m still getting cool guy vibes from him, even now we’re grown up.

‘Lia! It’s so good to see you. I almost didn’t recognise you,’ he says, a genuine smile spreading across his face.

‘I could say the same about you,’ I reply. ‘You look great.’

He chuckles, looking down at his hands – suddenly his expression changes.

‘Oh, God. I’ve got blood on my hands,’ he says. ‘So do you. I think I cut you when I knocked your drink out of your hand.’

I glance down, noticing the red smears on both our hands. Panic flashes through me for a split second before I realise it’s my blood-red lip stain, which I must have accidentally smudged.

‘It’s just my lipstick,’ I quickly explain, laughing again. ‘Honestly, I’m fine.’

Si lets out a relieved sigh, then laughs with me.

‘Thank God, I thought I’d assaulted you,’ he replies. ‘I did spill your drink though. Let me buy you another one to replace it.’

‘That would be really nice,’ I say, smiling back at him.

As we walk to the bar together, I can’t help but feel a pang of excitement. Si is giving me attention, talking to me, buying me a drink. It feels like a dream come true. When I was younger, I had the biggest crush on him. He was always kind to me, making me laugh whenever he came over to hang out with my brother. Back then, I was just Rory’s annoying little sister, but Si never treated me like I was a pain.

‘What were you drinking?’ he asks. ‘What can I get you?’

‘I’ll have a purple Kapop, please,’ I say, secretly relieved to be rid of the green one.

He pulls a face at my request and laughs.

‘My God, I really am too old to be here,’ he jokes. ‘So, how have you been, Lia?’

I pause while Si orders our drinks.

‘I’ve been good,’ I reply, trying to sound cool and casual even though my heart is racing. ‘I just moved back here, actually. How about you?’

‘I’ve been all right. Keeping busy with work,’ he says, handing me my drink. ‘Wow, it’s really great to see you again. It makes me feel like I’m not a thousand years old.’

I laugh – I feel myself blush a little too.

‘Well, I was feeling old myself but I guess you’ll always be older,’ I tease. ‘So, it’s great to see you too.’

‘Oof, shots fired,’ he replies. ‘You were a cheeky kid as well, I remember how funny you were.’

I smile, but before I have a chance to say anything, Mel and Angie sweep past me like a hurricane, grabbing me and ushering me away from Si.

‘Back in a sec, babe,’ Mel tells him. ‘So, who the fuck is that?’ she asks as soon as we’re out of earshot.

‘That’s Si,’ I tell them. ‘We bumped into each other – literally.’

‘Do you know him?’ Angie asks.

‘Yeah, he’s an old friend,’ I reply. ‘He was my brother’s best mate, growing up – I’m not actually sure if they’re still friends, he never mentions him. But… yeah.’

‘Oh, you like him,’ Mel says with a knowing smile.

‘No, yeah, well, I mean… I used to,’ I babble. ‘He was my first crush.’

‘Is he not a bit old for you?’ Angie asks. ‘How old is he?’

We all glance over at him and he gives us a wave before pointing at the purple Kapop still waiting for me on the bar.