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Ellie smacked her lips first. ‘Yum, hits the spot! So freaking cold here. They keep threatening snow this Christmas. But so far it hasn’t stopped raining.’

Hannah wiped away the pistachio foam from her top lip with an equally satisfied smack of her mouth. ‘Lush! My drink, not the threat of snow, of course, or the rain.’

‘Obviously not,’ Ellie said, followed by an envious sigh. ‘God, that view. It’s heaven!’

Hannah glanced over her shoulder and smiled. ‘It’s pretty stunning.’

‘That’s not the most stunning thing you’ve posted though.’ Ellie wiggled her eyebrows suggestively. ‘Caleb in that black wig, he could probably pass for my Alex.’

‘Do you think it would be too much to ask Alex or his agent to give Caleb a follow? If they like what they see, maybe they could consider recommending him?’

‘Sure!’

Hannah wouldn’t mention her interfering to Caleb unless it resulted in anything positive. He’d been a little distant of late, and she couldn’t help but wonder if it was because of that incident with the woman at Bianca’s party. She’d fought so hard to not let her jealousy show, but perhaps he’d noticed she was in danger of catching feelings and had decided to give them a little space. Which sucked, because everyone knew distance only made the heart grow… more obsessive. She missed him terribly at night and had to really launch herself into her hobbies and friends to stop herself from going mad. Hence why she’d moved forward her call to Ellie this month.

‘The film stuff looks like so much fun! Did you know the studio even used one of your crew pics to advertise for extras? I’ve been following your posts so closely that the algorithm now thinks I’m job hunting in Australia.’

A jolt of homesickness pierced her side, and she groaned. ‘Don’t tease me – if you lived here too, I’d definitely be in heaven.’

‘Sorry hun,’ said Ellie sympathetically. ‘But if I did live close by, I’d be tempted to be an extra. It looks so cool, and I reckon I could pass as one of the Endless.’

‘So, you’ve read the book?’

‘Of course I have!’ Ellie appeared indignant. ‘What self-respecting book girlie hasn’t read The Blood Crystal Wars?’

Hannah bared her teeth in a wince. ‘Me?’

Ellie tutted with a teasing sparkle in her brown eyes. ‘Sounds like you’re not doing your hour of reading each night. I wonder what else you’ve been doing instead?’

‘My book club hasn’t got around to it yet.’ Hannah muttered the excuse before changing the subject; she didn’t want to discuss what was happening (or not happening) with Caleb. ‘Anyway, tell me what you’ve been up to. How’s Alex’s play doing?’

‘Great! He’s even been offered the residential director position at the theatre, and…’ She paused for dramatic effect. ‘We’re buying a house together!’

Hannah’s stomach dropped like a stone. She forced herself to cheer and tried her best to hide her mixed feelings over the news. ‘That’s brilliant. I’m so happy for you!’

And she meant it, she was truly delighted for Ellie. Nobody deserved happiness more, and Ellie’s goals in life had always been to own her own home and fall in love, and she’d managed both in less than a year – all after Hannah had left to start a new and exciting life of her own.

Jealousy coiled within her and she tried to stuff it back into its box and lock it shut before it could bite her. Hannah didn’t have a boyfriend, let alone anyone to buy a property with – to build a life with.

Ellie’s news had reminded her of her own failings. She’d left London because she’d been afraid her life was becoming mundane, that she was slowly sliding into a future where she no longer lived, but simply existed.

And – God, forgive her – she’d always seen Ellie as her reliable constant. If Australia didn’t work out, she’d always known she could return home. Still have Ellie and her family waiting for her, supporting her. She could have gone back to their original plan of sharing a two-bed flat in their little corner of Hackney and growing old together, like her parents had done for over fifty years.

‘Screw finding love! Let’s buy our own flat and get some cats.’ Ellie had once said after a particularly bad breakup, and Hannah had seen their future open up like a bottomless black well beneath her. Two best friends, working the same job, sharing the same flat, like two spinsters from Edwardian times – except without the fun of a lesbian relationship.

No excitement, no sun, no romance – either figuratively or otherwise.

Such a compromise wasn’t fair on either of them.

Ellie deserved to be more than a plan B, and wasn’t that why she’d ultimately decided to take the leap? They were best friends, but they had lived in each other’s pockets for years. They both deserved a life of their own.

Except Hannah still hadn’t found hers yet.

Change doesn’t happen in a day.

‘Hannah?’ asked Ellie, concern wrinkling her brow. ‘Has the connection broken? Are you frozen?’

Hannah jerked forward with a wave of her hand – perhaps she could fake that she’d come back online. She hoped so. ‘I’m here! That’s wonderful news! I’m so pleased for you! Tell me all about it!’ Was she gushing a little too enthusiastically? Ellie looked worried.