Page 76 of So, I Met This Guy . . .

‘It can be pretty demanding.’

‘Aren’t they all going to be replaced with AI?’ pipes up Pat, my neighbour.

‘Well, it’s funny you say that.’

‘Tell them about your new business idea,’ I interrupt excitedly.

‘Darling, please,’ he quickly shushes me, but I’m a bit drunk and in proud fiancée mode.

‘It’s amazing! Everyone should invest in it!’

‘Ooh, what’s that, got any insider tips?’

My friends gather round, ready to be let into a secret, but Theo just laughs.

‘You can be put away for that, you know. No, it’s still early stages, but I’m working with a Hollywood source on some new AI technology. I think it’s going to revolutionize movies.’

‘Wow, sounds amazing.’

‘You’re going to get married and rich, Mags!’

‘I hope so! We’ve sunk all our savings into it!’

‘Not all, darling,’ Theo swiftly corrects me. ‘We have other investors. And we’re not sinking anything, we’re investing in the future. Our future.’

He breaks off as the waiter returns with the bill and Theo goes to get it. He’s so generous like that, always buying me gifts and flowers and treating me to lovely restaurants. I watch him telling everyone not to be silly and to put their cards away, please, it’s his treat, he’s just pleased everyone could come to celebrate with us and I feel a swell of happiness. A disbelief that this is really happening to me. That love and happiness really does come for everyone in the end, you just have to be patient and wait – your turn will come.

‘Oh damn, I can’t believe it.’

I notice he’s patting the back pocket of his jeans and now doing the same with his jacket, which he’s slung over the back of the chair.

‘What’s wrong?’

‘I’ve only gone and brought the wrong wallet.’ Furious with himself, he flicks it open to reveal a bunch of dollar bills. ‘This is my old one, the one I used in LA.’

I’d bought him a new one as a gift for his birthday a few weeks ago. A lovely leather one I’d had monogrammed with his initials.

‘Oh, it’s my fault,’ I quickly reassure, squeezing his arm. ‘Buying you a new one and getting you all mixed up. That always happens to me when I swap handbags. Don’t worry, I’ll get this.’

I quickly pull out my credit card and hand it to the waiter. Out of the corner of my eye I notice George giving me a look. I ignore him.

‘Thanks, darling, I’ll pay you back.’

‘Don’t be ridiculous, it’s my engagement dinner too.’

‘These feminists, they won’t let you pay for anything these days.’

Theo slips his arm around my waist affectionately and there’s laughter from my friends.

‘Don’t you have Apple Pay?’

I hear George’s voice and notice he’s not laughing.

‘Nah, don’t trust it.’

‘Really? But it uses AI technology to enhance security.’

‘So?’