‘I know. It’s in the fridge. My memory is fine. Now please leave before you are late.’

He frantically looked about the apartment. ‘I just need to—’

The buzzer sounded and the look of relief on Cameron’s face was obvious. ‘That’ll be Darla. I’ll let her in on my way out. Bye.’

Ros smiled after him. He really was the nicest human being she’d ever met. Gina was a very lucky woman. It was hard not to feel dispirited. At least Ros was doing her best to enjoy her time with him. Maybe a bit too much sometimes. She knew she’d have to let him go at some point soon. She felt that was likely going to be the lowest point of her life – losing her dad and Cameron simultaneously. She needed to mentally strengthen herself in readiness.

It seemed to take Darla a lot longer than usual to make it from the downstairs entry to Ros’s front door. At last, she appeared. She pointed over her shoulder. ‘He’s like a mother hen.’

‘He means well,’ said Ros from the sofa.

‘He gave me a list,’ said Darla, brandishing a piece of paper. ‘And strict instructions not to tire you out and to call if there was anything wrong. It’s like pet-sitting that pug with the gammy leg. His owners were just the same. They kept video-calling and I swear even the dog started eye rolling every time the phone went off.’ Darla pulled a bottle of fizz from her bag. ‘Anyway, we need glasses. We have loads to talk about.’

‘I can’t have alcohol.’ Ros pointed at the bottle.

‘It’s non-alcoholic. It probably tastes like shite but at least it has bubbles.’

‘Are we celebrating?’ Ros got the feeling she was missing something.

‘You could say that.’ Darla got out glasses, filled them up and brought them over to the sofa.

‘Go on then. Explain,’ said Ros, holding her glass and pausing, unsure if she could have a sip or if she was waiting for a toast.

‘I kept my job. The yacht owner was actually really grateful that we stopped his boat being stolen and gave me extra cash to clean it up after the police and everyone had traipsed all over it. Turns out baking soda and white vinegar gets bloodstains off wood as well as loads of other substances. Teak decking is a tricky one to get clean. I was almost ill at the sight of the bucket’s contents afterwards.’ Darla pulled a face.

‘Sorry,’ said Ros tentatively, unsure as to whether she should apologise as it was her blood, even though technically it was not her fault it had been shed on the boat deck.

‘No worries. It’s all gone now.’

‘Here’s to you keeping your job?’ suggested Ros, raising her glass.

‘And kissing Elliott,’ said Darla.

‘You can’t just say that without giving me more information.’

Darla took a swig of the fizz. ‘Actually not bad.’

‘The fizz or Elliott’s kiss?’ asked Ros.

‘Both.’ Darla grinned at her. And repositioned herself as if readying herself for an epic storytelling session. ‘It was dead romantic, apart from the frozen peas.’

‘You’ve lost me,’ said Ros, taking a sip of the fizz and nodding her approval.

Darla gave her a speedy update on what had happened with Elliott. ‘And then he was all gallant and wouldn’t take it any further because I’d had the brandy. Since then we’ve been flirty texting and I’m calling in at his tonight after leaving you.’

Darla looked happy and it was lovely to see. ‘I’m pleased for you. It means you’re moving on from Patrick, which is a good thing. I hope you’ll be very happy.’

Darla laughed. ‘We’re not getting married. It might not go anywhere but he’s one of the good guys. I’ve got a few months left at The Brambles so I might as well make the most of my time there. And some fun with Elliott will be the cherry on the top.’

‘Okay. Just don’t get hurt.’

‘It was me who headbutted him so . . .’ Darla grinned.

‘You know what I mean. It’s far too easy to go along with something thinking everything is clear and straightforward, but you can’t plan for emotions. They catch you out. You think it’s just a short-term agreement but before you know it, you’re falling in love with someone.’

Darla stared at Ros and then threw her arms in the air in a dramatic fashion. ‘Bloody hell, Ros. You’re in love with Cameron. Aren’t you?’

‘What? Noooooo.’ She could feel heat in her cheeks. ‘I was talking about you and the farmer.’

‘No, you weren’t. You’ve fallen for the fake boyfriend.’

‘I don’t think so,’ said Ros. Although she feared Darla may have found the simple explanation to how she had been feeling recently and behind her growing attachment to Cameron. She’d not felt like this before and she couldn’t say it was something she’d recommend, especially when it wasn’t reciprocated and was never likely to be.

Ros puffed out a sigh. ‘Even if I have – and I’m not admitting it, merely pursuing your suggestion as a possibility – then it’s pointless because Cameron is in love with Gina. I just need to recalibrate. Well, I would if I was in love with him, which I’m not.’ She broke eye contact because it felt like lying, probably not just to Darla but also to herself.

‘Oh, sweetie. You’re a terrible liar. Unreciprocated loved sucks. I know, ask Phillip Yates.’

‘Who?’

‘Long story involving a Barbie lamp. Never mind.’ Darla wrapped her in a hug. Ros would usually make such things brief but she was starting to appreciate the benefits of comforting human contact and recognised that today she needed a hug. She was feeling sorry for herself.

Darla pulled back to look at her friend. ‘Are we one hundred per cent watertight on the Gina thing?’

‘Yep,’ said Ros flatly.

‘She’d better be worth upsetting my best friend for.’

‘I’m afraid she is,’ said Ros.

Darla let go and wriggled back into her seat. ‘What you need is an exit strategy. So that when the time comes to stop playing at boyfriend, girlfriend and flatmates, it doesn’t break your heart.’

‘I think a clean break might be the answer. Maybe have a change of scenery – even a new challenge perhaps.’

‘Good idea. Now tell me about this Gina. She can’t be that brilliant. There must be something to hate about Jaunty Gina.’

‘Nope, she’s annoyingly perfect.’ Ros sipped her fizz and wished it had been the real deal to numb a very different pain from the one in her head.

‘Perfect people are very hard to find fault with. Bitch,’ said Darla with feeling and Ros laughed.

Chapter Thirty-Four

Ros had had one of her best days at work ever and was retelling it to a rapt Cameron as they made dinner together. It was her first day back at work after the incident on the yacht and it was like she had been elevated to some sort of hero status as everyone wanted to speak to her including Berlinda. Although she did have to tone down the story that was circulating because the version of events that Sonia had relayed made it sound more like a remake of Pirates of the Caribbean but with less rum and more bloodshed.

She’d also had a phone call from Alastair’s golf club associate and she had to admit that the job he had available did sound interesting, so she had arranged to meet him after work the following week, by which time she was confident she would be using shampoo again.

‘Get you being one of the cool girls,’ said Cameron, giving her arm a nudge as they chopped salad vegetables side by side like synchronised chefs.

‘I wouldn’t go that far but work does feel different from how it used to. And now I think about it, I feel different too.’ They looked at each other and she had to look away.