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“Let’s just say I have a good gaydar.”

Ash shrugged. “Well, that makes one of us.”

“And your ex, is she…? I mean, do you…? Is it awkward now, working together and not…”

“Oh, no, Sam relocated a while ago.” Ash stared into her mug. “A job came up for her in Edinburgh and it was too good to turn down.” She took a long sip of coffee and shrugged. “Long distance wouldn’t have worked for us, so…”

“But your accent, it’s from the North, right?”

Ash’s laughter pealed out. “Yeah, but Yorkshire, not Scotland. It’d still be long distance, even if I didn’t live all the way down here.”

Alice shook her head. “Ah, that’s a shame.”

“No, not really. There were other reasons it wouldn’t have worked, but hey, I’ve moved on.” Ash gave her a small smile. “And you?”

“Me?”

“Yesterday, you said you’d just broken up with someone. Are you doing okay?”

Alice drained the tea from her cup and placed it onto the saucer. “I’ve been better, but it was time I got real.”

Ash placed a surprisingly warm hand on top of Alice’s. “If you want to talk about it, I’m a good listener.”

Alice threw her head back and drew in a deep breath.Would it be so bad to get this off my chest?She hadn’t been able to speak to anyone else about it. She’d tried several times with Maggie, but she’d gone all self-righteous when Alice let on that Fran was married, probably because of Markus and his track record… and confiding in Jeremy was out of the question, obviously. There was no one else she trusted, so why not confide in a stranger who was willing to listen?

Alice looked back to Ash, straight into those dark brown eyes, full of concern and kindness. “You really want to know?”

Ash nodded. “Hit me with it.”

Reluctantly, Alice withdrew her hand from under Ash’s. Her chair scraped across the tiled floor as she stood. “Okay, but I’ll need another pot of tea. And I think I’d better get you a muffin.”

Ash laughed. “Why?”

“You’ll need some sugar to help with the shock.”

Ash held up her hands. “In that case, who am I to argue?”

At the counter, Alice ordered another pot of English breakfast tea — ignoring her bladder’s better judgement — a large white Americano, “…and two more of those delicious muffins.” She pointed at the raspberry-topped cakes in the display and grimaced as the total tallied up on the till, but the present company was more than worth the relatively small outlay, so she tapped her credit card. Plus, a woman had to eat and drink.

As the barista prepared her order, Alice leaned against the end of the counter and glanced at her locked phone screen crowded with notifications. If only she could just block Fran.If only it were that easy.Why had she ever allowed herself to get involved in thisbullshit?

She sighed and pushed her phone into the back pocket of her jeans, even though she really ought to text Maggie about the car.Later.

Alice allowed her eyes to drift over to Ash, who sat mesmerised as cherry blossom from the tree on the street corner caught in the breeze and drifted by the window like pink snow. It was funny observing the things other people noticed; almost as if seeing them for yourself through fresh eyes. Spring really was quite beautiful.

“Alice. Order for Alice.” The young barista’s voice snatched her from her daydream.

Turning to walk away, Alice almost dropped the tray when in front of her stood Fran, looking as gorgeous as ever and thoroughly pissed off. Alice swallowed hard.

“What are you doing here?”

“I’ve had warmer greetings, Alice, I must say.” Fran chortled before fixing her lips into a smile. “I’ve been trying to call you, but you weren’t answering.”

Alice shook her head and Fran’s eyes travelled down to the laden tray she was struggling to balance. “You have company?”

“I… I… yes. I’m having tea with a friend.” Alice’s eyes flicked over to Ash, who was looking in their direction with a furrowed brow. Fran looked around too, her smile faltering as she returned her cold eyes to Alice.

“I see, and who is this ‘friend’?”