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‘You never lived with me.’ I reach for the thermostat remote and turn the heating on. ‘You just came and went when it suited you.’

Chris looks at his glass. ‘Is that what it looked like?’

‘That’s how it was.’

‘Look, Kat. I don’t deserve you. I know that. If karma is a thing, I should be alone for the rest of my life. I broke your heart so many times. But for what it’s worth, I’m sorry. Really, really sorry.’

‘Thank you. For apologising properly.’

‘This is about more than just an apology, Kat.’ Chris takes a determined swig of wine. ‘This is about sharing my evolution with you. I need to keep up if I’m ever going to stand a chance of winning you back. Which is why I’m now on the career ladder.’

‘You know giving out flyers outside a shopping centre isn’t a career?’

‘I’m the new theatre manager at the London Apollo. I have a pension and I’m looking into houses on the commuter belt. Time to grow up. So, Kat. Are you seeing anyone?’

‘Actually, no.’

‘YES!’ Chris does a fist pump.

‘I don’t think that’s a very tactful reaction. You know how much I wanted to get married before I turned 35.’

‘Sorry.’ Chris clunks his wineglass down on the counter. ‘It’s your birthday next Friday, isn’t it?’

‘Yes.’ I blink at him. ‘Wow. You remembered.’

‘It was the first thing I wrote in my new scheduling app.’ Chris gives me a shy smile. ‘I wanted to make sure I got you a present on time.’

‘That’s very thoughtful.’

‘It’s easy to be thoughtful when you love someone.’

‘Chris –’

‘I do love you, Kat. I always have. And I can prove it. Will you marry me?’

‘I’m sorry. What?’

‘Marry me. We’ll run away together on your birthday and tie the knot, just the two of us.’

‘Are you being serious?’

‘Absolutely. We’ll meet at the Meeting Place Statue at St Pancras, then take a first-class train to Scotland and get married over an anvil at Gretna Green. Just the two of us. What do you say?’

I watch Chris, not quite sure what’s changed. He looks completely different to me now. My heart isn’t yammering and my mouth isn’t dry and he doesn’t light me up inside.

‘Do you know what, Chris?’ I turn my wine glass. ‘Not so long ago, I would have jumped at that lack-lustre offer. But I’ve changed. I’ve learned to value myself and I really am over you. I’m not under your spell anymore. I don’t even think itwaslove. Just teenage infatuation stretched out way too long. And I’m worth more.’

Chris’s face drops. ‘So you’re saying no?’

‘Actually, I’m saying yes. I’m just not jumping up and down about it.’

Chris looks confused, which is reasonable.

‘Better the devil you know, right?’ I take a sip of wine. ‘I don’t have time to wait around for happily ever after. I need to make a sensible decision, based on what’s on the table. Which is two like-minded people who’ve already slept together and know each other’s faults. We get along pretty well. You want children. And you do seem to be improving.’

‘So … you’re saying yes?’

‘Yes. Or to put it another way, what the hell?’