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‘You looked amazing in your dress,’ he replies. ‘I couldn’t stop looking at you.’

The waiter places the bill down on the table before I can reply.

‘Let’s go for a walk,’ Jamie suggests.

‘Okay,’ I reply.

Outside, the air is warm, even as the sun is starting to set. We don’t walk right away; first we get in the car, which drops us at the beach, near the hotel.

Jamie takes off his shoes.

‘I love to feel the sand under my feet,’ he tells me as he unbuttons his shirt.

‘Well, I can remove my shoes, but I can’t take my top off,’ I joke.

He gives me a smile that suggests he doesn’t mind if I do.

The beach is almost empty now, the crowds thinning as night approaches. We walk near the water, talking about nothing important. I love the feeling of the warm water against my feet – I didn’t think this evening could get any more relaxing, but I’m getting there.

I’m scared to say it but… this feels like a date, and not just any date, but a really good one. Certainly the best one I’ve been on in a while, but now that I think about it, Ron’s dating game was awful – although that was probably largely because he kept me a secret.

I step on something sharp and trip, rolling my ankle, almost plunging face first into the wet sand, but Jamie grabs me.

‘Perks of hanging out with a rugby player,’ he jokes. ‘You okay?’

‘Thanks,’ I say. ‘Yeah, I’m fine.’

I wiggle my ankle to make sure, but it feels okay. It would have been my pride that I hurt the most if I had stacked it in front of him.

He releases my waist but takes my hand.

‘Keep hold, there are a few rocks here,’ he says.

I do as I’m told.

His hand feels warm, his fingers clasping mine. I feel safe, like he won’t let me fall.

I’m impressed by the charm offensive; I can see why people like him. I don’t feel like I have to fight for his attention. I feel like if I text him, he’ll text back, no games needed.

If I were single, properly single, then I’d be mad not to see where this goes. It’s just, with my complication, with Eddy, I don’t know, it just doesn’t feel right.

I know, that sounds silly, because Eddy and I are not together, and he isn’t making me think he wants anything beyond our arrangement, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t really like him. But what am I supposed to do, if he doesn’t like me like that? Be single forever? I can’t do that. I can’t be alone forever. Yes, he’s warm, and protective, and he has my back – but is that all this is? A friend thing?

Whereas Jamie is actively pursuing me. That feels clear now. If I have the chance of something real with someone who seems genuinely interested, do I owe it to myself to see what happens?

The resort is visible in the distance now, the white buildings darkening as the sun sinks behind them.

‘Did you have a nice time?’ he asks.

‘I did.’

‘You sound surprised,’ he replies.

‘To be fair, I thought I was attending a crisis meeting,’ I say with a laugh.

‘Fair.’

We slow near a railing overlooking the water. Jamie turns towards me, still holding my hand.