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Molly examined her. Ashley looked like she believed it. It made Molly nervous. ‘You say that like you’ve got insider information.’

‘I might,’ Ashley said lightly.

Molly looked up again, eyebrow raised. ‘Oh yeah?’

Ashley smiled. ‘Some people just seem like they’re going somewhere. That’s you.’

Molly laughed. It came out a bit mocking. ‘How can you see that?’

Ashley shrugged.

Molly actually knew exactly what Ashley meant. Because she looked at Ashley and saw that quality. Ashley seemed destined to make it.

But Molly didn’t believe that could be her. She felt she was essentially a jester. She didn’t see a big future for herself. Even now.

Ashley reached for her glass again, and this time drank. Molly watched her, not eating.

When Ashley put the glass down, she caught Molly still looking. Neither of them commented.

And neither of them said what they were thinking. That it suddenly felt like something was beginning, and they didn’t know if they were ready for it.

Any of it.

‘Umm, just in case it’s not obvious, I want to tell you that I really like you,’ Ashley said suddenly.

Molly froze.

‘Oh, sorry,’ Ashley said, pinkening.

‘No, no… I’m not… You didn’t say anything wrong,’ Molly said. ‘I like you too.’

Ashley frowned, which was not quite the response Molly might have hoped for. ‘Oh no,’ she whispered.

‘What?’

‘You had to say that because I said that. I should have kept my mouth shut.’

Molly laughed. ‘Someone had to say it first.’

‘It’s too soon, though.’

‘You didn’t propose, Ashley,’ Molly said with an eyebrow raise.

‘I’ve scared you.’

‘I’m not scared,’ Molly told her with a smile and all the sincerity she possessed.

Ashley was briefly assuaged. But then the panic seemed to set in again. ‘I want you to know, I don’t rush into things. Ever. I’m careful.’

‘I don’t rush into things either, but because I’ve never wanted to. Before now,’ Molly admitted.

Ashley went very still at that. ‘Before now,’ she repeated.

Molly gave a small shrug, trying to make it all lighter. ‘Yeah. Before now. It’s just… I like you. And I’m glad we met. That’s all.’

Ashley nodded, not quite able to meet Molly’s eye. ‘Right,’ she said. ‘Good. That’s… good.’ She groaned. ‘I’m not used to this bit.’

‘Which bit?’ Molly asked.