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‘Oh, you’re not,’ I said, standing aside to let him into the hallway.

As I closed the door behind him, my arm brushed against his sleeve. In the darkness of the hallway we stood very close together for a second; very still. I could hear his breath and mine. I imagined sliding into his arms again, like I had when I’d said goodbye to him in Cannes, his body pressing into mine. Feeling safe, wanted, enough. I’d always secretly longed for someone – anyone! – to notice that I was struggling and to volunteer their help, despite me insisting I didn’t need it. And Theo had done that, without me having to ask. Without me even realising that he was exactly what I needed all along.

‘Scarlett? Who is it?’ shouted Dad, not used to visitors arriving unannounced.

I beckoned Theo after me down the hallway.

‘Dad, there’s someone I want you to meet!’ I called out, smiling at Theo over my shoulder.

‘I’m honoured,’ said Theo, following me.

‘Just to warn you, my family can be quite dramatic,’ I said, keeping my voice low. ‘There might be some shouting at some point.’

‘I think I can deal with that.’

‘And crying?’

He winced. ‘Really?’

‘You’ll be fine,’ I said, ushering him into the lounge.

Later, we sat on leather bar stools around the stunning 1920s-style circular bar on the ground floor of Theo’s hotel. He ordered us an Aperol Spritz each.

‘A nod to Cannes,’ he said when they arrived, clinking my glass.

‘And to our reunion,’ I said, clinking again for good measure.

Dad had been surprisingly upbeat in Theo’s presence, clearly pleased to have a new face to talk to. While the two of them sat on the sofa and chatted about their shared lifelong adoration of Manchester United, I scrolled through the latest series of texts from my siblings – and for once they didn’t make me want to tear my hair out. Zach had eventually responded positively to my message.

I hear you about your writing. Pretty unpredictable, huh? No worries, I’ll sort housing out myself.

And a text from Kate had been similarly mind-boggling.

I’ve been thinking about your suggestion that I should get a part-time job and I’ve decided I’m going to train tobe a court clerk. That way I can tap up all the lawyers I meet for free divorce advice!

I sipped at my Aperol Spritz.

‘I have thanked you for coming up here to see me, haven’t I?’ I said with mock confusion.

‘I believe you have, yes, several times.’

I took a slow breath in, quietening the butterflies in my stomach.

‘There was something I’ve been meaning to ask you, actually,’ I said.

‘Anything.’

I took a second, thinking about the promise I’d made to myself to be honest with people from here on in, and especially to be honest with Theo.

‘Are you seeing someone?’

He frowned. ‘Why would you think that?’

‘Your meeting. I heard you arranging it a couple of weeks ago, when we were on a Zoom call. I suppose I put two and two together.’

He laughed softly. ‘Ah. Well, I have been meeting someone.’

I knew it.