I woke the next morning with a sore head, and red eyes from crying myself to sleep. Rachel was still asleep, and I could hear Liz snoring gently from her room. I padded down the stairs, made myself a cup of tea and wandered into the living room, picking up the newspaper from the doormat on the way.

I nearly jumped out of my skin as I saw Bryan asleep on the sofa, and Shane in one of the armchairs. I sighed, and headed back into the kitchen, and sat down at the table. I flicked through the newspaper, not taking any of it in. Liz came in, not long later, rubbing her eyes.

‘Oh hello.’ She had a sly look in her eyes. ‘And when did you get back?’

‘After you. But I just went straight to bed.’

‘Does this mean we have another house-guest I should know about?’

‘Like who?’ My voice was harsh, but I didn’t care.

‘Kian, duh!’

‘Don’t be ridiculous!’

‘Jeez, chill girl. There’s no need to bite my head off!’ I looked up and Liz.

‘I’m sorry.’ And then I burst into tears.

She came and sat next to me, putting her arms round my shoulders. ‘Honey, don’t cry. What’s wrong?’

Bit by bit, the whole story poured out, as did the tears. Twenty minutes later, I was all cried out, and Liz made me another cup of tea.

‘Babe, I’m so sorry. I wouldn’t have said anything if I knew.’

‘I know. I shouldn’t have snapped at you like that. I’m sorry.’

‘Don’t be stupid. Look, hun, I know where you’re coming from. I’ve been there remember?’ Liz had been engaged to someone else before she had met Andy. ‘But hun, you can’t hide away. I know Mike hurt you, really badly, but if you sit at home, away from the world, that’s letting him win. You’ve gotta get back out there and let the world know that Hannah Hunter is back on the market!’

I smiled, and sniffed at the same time. Liz grinned. ‘Okay now?’

‘I guess. But I don’t know what to do about Kian.’

‘Let him come to you. If he likes you that much, he’ll come and track you down, or at least ask Bry and Shane if they saw you today. And if he doesn’t, then he’s not worth it anyway.’

‘Yeah, you’re right.’

‘Of course I’m right!’ She gave me a quick hug. ‘Come on, let’s go and wake Shane and Bryan up. I want my living room back!’

The two of us walked into the living room, banging pots and pans against each other. Shane and Bryan sat up, bleary eyed.

‘Okay, okay we’re up. Quit the racket!’ Bryan grabbed the saucepan I was holding. ‘Jeez, don’t you two get hangovers?’

‘No. Y’see, I only had a pint, and Liz doesn’t drink! We’ve been up for aaaages! And Liz would like her living room up.’

‘Bloody women.’ Shane smiled, so we knew his was joking. ‘Got any painkillers?’

‘Yeah, they’re in...’ I butted in on Liz.

‘They don’t work as well as Irn Bru though!’

Bryan got on his feet. ‘You have Irn Bru? Where?’ I pointed him in the direction of the fridge, and he and Shane almost ran out of the living room.

‘You seem better.’ Liz smiled at me.

‘Yeah, I am. And I’m single, and I’m proud of it!’

‘You go girl!’ She gave me a high five, and we collapsed on the sofa in fits of giggles. Bryan and Shane reappeared with glasses of the orange stuff.

‘That’s better! You’re a star!’ Bryan fell into the armchair nearest the door.

‘Yeah. I knew I didn’t buy enough of this stuff last time we were in Glasgow. Just as well you were here!’ Shane raised his glass. ‘Cheers!’

The two of them had downed their drinks, when somewhere, a mobile phone started ringing.

‘That’s mine! I changed the ring on it yesterday. Anyone know where my phone is?’ Bryan stood up and picked some clothes up off the floor. Underneath a jumper was his mobile. ‘Hello? Kian, hi!’ I shot a look at Liz. She shrugged. ‘Yeah, I kipped at Liz’s place. Uh-huh, she’s here. Do you want to speak to her?’ Bryan looked at me, and I nodded, reluctantly. I took the phone from Bryan and went back to the kitchen.

I took a deep breath. ‘Kian.’

‘Hannah. Hi. Look, um, I just wanted to apologise for last night. I don’t know what I did exactly, but I thought I should say sorry.’ My heart melted as I heard how upset he sounded.

‘Kian, look, I’m the one who should be apologising. You didn’t do anything. It’s just me.’

‘Oh.’

There was a pause. ‘Look, Kian, I want to explain. Could, could I come and see you?’

‘Yeah. That’d be good. Can you remember how to get here?’

‘I think so. Give me time to have a shower and get dressed, and then I’ll come across.’

‘Cool. See you then, then.’

‘Yeah, see you.’ I hung up and saw Liz standing in the doorway. ‘Elizabeth! Were you eavesdropping?’

She smiled sheepishly. ‘Couldn’t help it, sorry. The doctor says it’s some kind of condition! So, tell me!’

‘I thought you heard it all!’

‘I deserved that, I guess! You know what I mean!’

‘I’m going over. To explain.’

‘Good. Now, how long do you have?’

‘I said I’d be there in an hour.’

‘Okay, that gives us, what, at least 40 minutes to make you look absolutely ravishing?’

‘Actually, only about 20. It’s a 35 minute ride, and I have to find it again!’

‘We’d better get a move on then! Come on, operation Kian is in action!’ I giggled, and Liz pushed me out the door, and up the stairs.