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‘Okay,’ Frankie addressed Cole, ‘you want to do a PhD⁠—’

‘And travel in my new van and actually see the places we go to, not just auditoriums and the inside of repellent hotel rooms,’ Cole said. ‘Arlo wants to set up a centre for kids to incorporate fitness and meditation and confidence. He already helps out in a couple of gyms in London which focus on underprivileged kids.’

Frankie turned to Jay. ‘What about you?’

Jay shrugged lightly. ‘It would probably involve buying a place near here, some land. Farming is the new rock and roll, evidently. I could make cheese and honey and,’ he paused, ‘other products from farming.’

‘Other products? You’ve clearly done a lot of research on this.’ Although Frankie teased, it sounded a pretty perfect lifestyle to her. Especially as he wanted it to be local.

‘I’d also like to complete my degree.’ Jay looked at Frankie dead in the eye. ‘I want to finish what I started years ago.’

Frankie felt warm under Jay’s gaze and she wasn’t sure he was solely talking about his university years.

‘Geez!’ Si said, rolling his eyes. ‘If you’re all so sensible, I guess it’s left to me to buy a racehorse. Or a yacht.’ He laughed. ‘Except, I hate horses and I chuck my guts up on a ferry. I might live in a castle miles away from anywhere, write Gothic horror novels and drink absinth all day.’

‘You’d last a week and want to come live with one of us,’ Cole scoffed.

‘Probably. I’m not good in my own company for too long. I could go travelling with you in your camper van!’

Cole looked horrified. ‘The hell you will.’

Si stood up. ‘What about you, Frankie, what’s your dream?’

Frankie was stumped. ‘I don’t think I have one.’

‘We all have one, just some of us take a while to realise what it is.’ Si picked up his pack of cigarettes off the table. ‘I’m going for a smoke.’

‘I’ll get another round in,’ Jay said, getting up and going to the bar.

‘We went to your grandfather’s trattoria a couple of nights ago,’ Cole said when it was just him and Frankie left. ‘It was amazing!’

Frankie smiled. ‘What did you have?’

‘A selection. Matteo kept bringing us food.’

‘He does that. Did you have the ravioli?’

‘Oh yeah,’ Cole nodded, ‘and the cannelloni and then the fish in⁠—’

‘The butter and caper sauce?’ Frankie cut in. ‘It’s divine, isn’t it? The sauce is so simple, it really lets the fish sing. I hope you had the Vermentino to go with it. Nonno likes the Fiano but I prefer the Vermentino.’

‘You love working there, don’t you? Your face lights up when you talk about it. You know someone else who looks happier and more alive than I’ve seen in years?’ Cole continued. ‘Jay.’

‘I guess he’s finally able to move on from the divorce.’

Cole took a moment before saying, ‘The divorce has nothing to do with it. Being here, with you, has everything to do with it.’

Frankie felt her heart leap, but then tried to rein in her galloping emotions.

She was falling back into the comfortable space with Jay. And falling for him again too. But he’d broken her heart before and Frankie couldn’t go through the same hurt again.

She stood up and put on her coat and picking up her bag, said, ‘I’d better get back.’

Cole looked surprised.

She hurried past the bar just as Jay turned up with a tray of drinks.

‘Frankie! Wait…’