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Frowning, Hannah pulled out her phone and then crumpled into a fit of hysterical laughter. ‘Oh my God! You’ll never guess!’

‘What?’

Hannah showed him the text.

Babe, it’s really out of order for you to leave like that. Noah really hurt his back because of your broken bed, and your sheets are still in the washing machine! You need to come and sort it out. Luv BeXs

‘Were they travelling or something? How have they only just worked out you’re gone?’ Caleb chuckled with a shake of his head.

Hannah shrugged, choking on her giggles. ‘Maybe… but honestly, I doubt it.’

‘Gross.’

‘Thank heavens you saved me.’ Hannah sighed, wrapping her arms around him.

‘I think you saved me too,’ said Caleb and he squeezed her tight, as if unwilling to let her go.

‘So, what’s next?’ she joked. ‘After the hospital?’

‘I don’t care, as long as it’s with you.’

Epilogue

Gold Coast, six months later

Hannah still liked a ridiculously overpriced coffee; some things would never change.

‘Hannah?’ called the barista, and Hannah picked up her blueberry cinnamon crumble iced latte, flat white, and bag of breakfast treats from the counter with a cheerful, ‘Thank you.’

She then strolled outside to her Ducati motorcycle, which she had to admit was a definite change that old Hannah might have frowned over. But this Hannah loved her bike; Caleb had bought it for her birthday after she’d kept asking to ride his. Although she always wore leathers and a helmet and insisted that Caleb do the same.

She safely stowed her beverages and goodies in the tail case, a particularly large box on the back of her bike, which Caleb said would always fit her essentials bag. Which, ironically, she didn’t have with her today.

Climbing onto her bike, she put on her helmet and roared off past Surfers Paradise with its bottle-green waves and empty sandy beaches. The air was crisp with a late autumn chill that would have made any Londoner take off their jacket and remark on the fine weather.

She drove down the Gold Coast Highway, leaving the sparkling skyscrapers behind as she approached Burleigh Heads, the vibrant suburb with a chilled-out vibe that lay further down the coast from the main hub. It was well-loved for its good surf and ocean views. The grassy hill of the headland came into view as she made her way towards the beach, palms and Norfolk pines guiding her way.

In no time, she was leaving the main road and driving into the basement of Caleb’s new apartment building. It was far too posh to be called a flat. She had to say she was impressed already and hadn’t stepped foot in the apartment yet. The building was one of the smaller towers, and Caleb had said it was because it had been designed with an apartment on each floor, and there were only nine floors. The concept being beachfront house proportions stacked on top of one another to get the best views.

Of course, Caleb had moved into the top floor – show-off. It was definitely better than the hotel he’d long leased his suite from, and she’d thought that was spectacular. She was glad Caleb had picked an area that was as close to her flat as the hotel. It was so convenient, although Burleigh Heads was a much cooler address than her flat with Zach.

She parked up beside his car and bike – he’d told her he had two spaces and she recognised his vehicles. She got out her drinks and treats and headed to the entrance.

‘I’m here!’ she announced through his buzzer, and the front door released so that she could enter and ride the lift up to his new home.

The doors opened to reveal herringbone timber floors and a very busy colour scheme.

‘Wow!’ she declared, as Caleb met her at the lift.

He grinned. ‘You like it?’ he asked, kissing her on the cheek.

‘I hate it,’ she said, nodding in appreciation at the sheer ugliness of the apartment. ‘The purple fleur-de-lis on a green background is a bold choice.’

‘Particularly as it’s not even straight half the time,’ he agreed, scratching at the paint of one particularly wonky stencil. ‘Come see the master bedroom. It’s iconic!’

He opened one of the doors to the master bedroom, which embodied the most tasteless bachelor-pad aesthetic she’d ever seen. The floors were carpeted in zebra print, the walls were black and red, and a gold chandelier hung from the ceiling, looking as if it was made with tiny daggers dripping in chains.

That’s when she noticed it. ‘Is that…?’