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‘Good,’ Molly said. ‘That’s good. I’m good too.’

Ashley nodded. ‘Glad to hear it.’

It was remarkable how two people who’d been what they’d been could become such total strangers.

Molly glanced down at her drink. ‘I listened to the new album.’

Ashley blinked. ‘Oh? What did you think?’ she asked without meaning to.

Molly smiled. ‘I liked it.’

Ashley rolled her eyes. ‘Very diplomatic.’

‘No, seriously. I liked it. The third track’s my favourite,’ Molly added.

Ashley was horror-struck. ‘Half Light’. Of course Molly had picked that one. The song was practically a breakup letter. The only song she hadn’t struggled with. It fell out of her in ten minutes, melody and all. She had to fight Simon for it, who called it ‘moody’. In the end, she’d made it a dance track to appease him.

But now, she wished she’d let him win. She wouldn’t be so humiliated now. She wouldn’t feel so naked.

After another pause, Molly shifted awkwardly. ‘Well. It was nice seeing you.’

‘Yeah. You too.’

‘I’m glad you’re doing okay.’

Ashley almost told her she wasn’t. The words reached the back of her throat before she swallowed them.

‘You too,’ she said instead.

Molly nodded. Then she smiled one last time and stepped away.

Ashley watched her disappear into the crowd before immediately turning in the opposite direction.

She found Hallie behind her.

‘Was that the Molly Sullivan?’ Hallie’s expression became deeply concerned. ‘How was it?’

‘Polite,’ Ashley said.

Hallie winced. ‘Ouch.’

‘Thank you.’

Hallie nodded sympathetically.

Ashley realised she hadn’t even asked Molly how she was doing. Molly had been forced to volunteer it. Fuck. She was so selfish.

‘I’m leaving.’

Hallie raised an eyebrow.

‘Fifty minutes is considered an hour in therapy. Which I now need, thanks to you.’

Hallie groaned. ‘Fine. Off you go.’

Ashley shuffled through the crowd. At the door, she thought, You won’t look back. You don’t need to. You’re over her.

But she did look back, just long enough to see Molly laugh again.