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“Every mean thing I did, or watched and said nothing about. Every time someone made a crack about the army and I laughed instead of standing up for you. Every time I went along with it because it was easier than being the one person who didn’t.”

A jogger passed behind them, trainers slapping the path.

“If I could go back and change it, I would. I know I can’t. And I know saying I was young, or a mess, or trying to fit in doesn’t make it any better. It explains it. It doesn’t excuse it.”

Carly looked down at Berkeley. Her hand had tightened on his lead.

“I’m sorry,” Lauren said. “Truly. I can’t imagine what that was like.”

The silence went on and on, and Lauren didn’t fill it. Carly didn’t need to hear how uncomfortable Lauren had been in her own skin back then. How she’d tried so hard to be careless because caring had felt like weakness. How much easier it had been to laugh with everyone than to risk standing alone. How she’d been fighting with who she was, and losing.

All true. None of it the point.

Berkeley moved first, nudging Carly’s hand with his nose. She stroked between his ears without looking at Lauren.

“Thank you,” Carly said.

Two words. Measured. Almost formal. Then she took a sip of her coffee and carried on walking.

Lauren stayed where she was. Thank you? After fifteen years? She hadn’t expected absolution. She knew she didn’t deserve it. But some needy part of her had hoped for something that closed the loop. Maybe even it’s fine, though of course it wasn’t. Instead, thank you.

It was Berkeley who got her moving. Carly was several strides ahead, and Berkeley had turned back, waiting, as if unsure whether the pack had split.

“Right,” Lauren muttered. “Brilliant. Great work, everyone.” She caught up.

Carly didn’t look angry. She looked thoughtful, her eyes on something up ahead.

Lauren wondered whether to say more, but the whole point was not saying more. Paige would be proud. After making three jokes at her expense.

At the edge of the playing fields, the dogs found the same patch of mud and set about it shoulder to shoulder.

Carly cleared her throat. “All ready for relaunch week?”

Lauren blinked at the change of subject. “Relaunch week?”

“The gym,” Carly said, as if Lauren might have misplaced an entire business. “I assume you’ve got customers to charm and a WhatsApp group to weaponise.”

“Right. Yes. Posters, posts, discounts, whatever else Jenna’s bullied me into. The usual community outreach slash emotional blackmail.”

Carly almost smiled. “Jenna’s approach works. You have to give her that.”

“The chat’s gone feral about the free trial. Someone asked if the discount applies to ex-wives.”

“Did you say no?”

“I said bring them too, as long as nobody cries near the squat rack.”

Carly laughed. Quietly, but definitely.

Lauren’s chest loosened a little.

“I might do a quick video from the treatment room,” she said. “Just me saying I’ll be around on the day if anyone wants to talk through old injuries or ask stupid questions.”

“No stupid questions.”

“Exactly. That’ll be the point.”

Carly glanced at her. “Good.”