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The driver opens the rear door for me. I hesitate – but only mentally. Physically, I get in the car, because it feels too ill-mannered not to at this point.

The drive is only twenty minutes. The driver drops me at a restaurant beside the harbour.

‘He said he’d meet you inside,’ the driver informs me.

A member of staff meets me at the door and leads me through a quiet dining room – not just quiet. Empty. Like the place is closed.

Then I spot him, Jamie, sitting at a table by the window, looking out over the harbour.

‘Jamie?’ I call out.

He looks smart, in dark trousers and a cream shirt with the sleeves rolled to his forearms.

He stands when he sees me.

‘Hi,’ he says.

‘Hi,’ I reply with a laugh. ‘What’s going on?’

‘I wanted to surprise you.’

‘Consider me surprised,’ I reply. ‘Where is everyone?’

‘The place is closed today,’ he says.

‘So why are we here?’

‘Because I booked us a table for two,’ he tells me.

I’m so confused.

‘Jamie, what’s the PR crisis?’ I ask, cutting to the chase.

A cheeky grin spreads across his face.

‘Me, taking my teammate’s missus out for dinner,’ he replies.

I shoot him a look.

‘Is that why I’m here?’ I blurt.

He nods.

‘Jamie…’

‘I didn’t think you’d come, if I just asked,’ he tells me. ‘But we’re mates, aren’t we? We’ve had dinner before…’

‘We have…’

‘So, let’s have dinner again,’ he suggests. ‘I promise to talk work, at some point, Scout’s honour.’

‘There’s no way they let you in the Scouts,’ I reply. ‘But, seeing as though I’m here, we can eat.’

I can never quite pinpoint why, but sometimes I feel a little sorry for him. I feel like he measures himself against Eddy, even when he doesn’t need to. It’s like he’s always got something to prove.

Somewhere, deep in my gut, I feel a little guilty for staying, like I’m being disloyal to Eddy, but we’re not actually a couple, are we? He specifically told me not to put my life on hold, and I said the same to him. Plus, chances are, I’ll be working with Jamie for definite, in some capacity next year.

I take a seat. Jamie sits back down, looking far too pleased with himself.