‘You alright love?’ A voice startled Nadia into opening her eyes.

‘Ah yes, thanks.’ She stepped away from the wall and smiled at the man who wanted to open his gate. ‘Sorry.’

‘You want me to call a taxi? You look done in.’

‘No, thanks. I’m fine.’ She walked a little further down the street and pulled out her phone. A taxi was a good idea, but she didn’t know where she was. She laughed. She’d been so immersed in her infatuation with Jake she’d wandered past her apartment and into the residential outskirts of town.

Nadia backtracked through the labyrinth of pale stone houses with their bay windows and neat concrete front gardens until she reached a large park. The children’s play equipment was the evening haunt of teenagers, who were smoking and skateboarding. She remained on the pavement, a park to explore another day, and using the road signs she was soon back to familiar territory and recognized the name of a pub.

She licked dry lips and wished it were a café. She looked at her phone. She’d been walking for almost two hours. Her feet throbbed and she needed a drink, but she’d never been into a pub alone. She felt her father’s disapproval, remembered Jake’s words and heart thumping, she entered the pub, ordered a fruit juice, and sat at the nearest empty table. Her feet sighed with relief and the world still turned. She smiled, another step away from her past. She gulped half her drink. ‘Oh, I needed that.’

‘Talking to yourself is a sign of madness.’

She looked up. ‘Stan. Hello.’ She stood but he waved her back into her chair. ‘It’s possible I’m a tad crazy.’

‘Join the club.’ He chuckled and indicated the chair opposite her.

‘Of course, Stan, sit down.’ Nadia looked at his smile-creased face and wondered what his story was.

‘I don’t know what you be doing here, but I’m a mite glad to see you.’ Stan said. ‘Wanted a private word in your ear. Now you can tell me to mind my own business, but I’ve seen the way you looks at Jake. You know he’s got a girlfriend don’t ya?’

Nadia blushed and stared into her glass. ‘Yes, Cathy. I’ve met her, and she’s lovely. She’s invited me to dinner one night.’

‘Ah, good, didn’t want you to waste all that emotion and then get hurt.’ Stan took a long swig of his beer.

‘Thanks Stan. Is it that obvious? Does he know, d’you think?’ She reached for her drink.

‘Nah, he’s so used to girls ogling him, it’s water off a duck’s back.’ He hesitated. ‘Watch yourself though.’

‘Stan, can I be honest with you?’

‘Course you can, I won’t say nothing to no-one. Not many people to talk to anyways. That’s why I love the art class, some of the others were here earlier. We come here after for a quick one.’

‘I was thinking and walked right past the gallery.’

‘About Jake?’

‘Yes, and other things. I think I’m letting myself enjoy Jake’s company because I know it’s safe. He’s safe. It’s not wrong for me to do that, is it?’

‘To enjoy someone’s company? No love. Watch Cathy though, she does have a temper. There was a night we stayed late. Jake forgot to pick her up from the train station. Oh my, did he get an earful when she stormed into the room and found us all laughing and talking art.’

‘They seem like an unlikely match, but Jake says she balances him. Opposites often attract, don’t they?’ Nadia looked Stan in the eye as he nodded. ‘He’s encouraging me to be confident with my art and life. I guess he’s my first real friend since I left home.’

‘Hold onto that, don’t let your heart turn your head. He’s a good man.’

‘And so are you Stan.’

‘Ta love.’ He drank the rest of his beer and stood up. ‘Enough lecturing for me, I’m off to bed. You okay walking home? It’s getting late.’

‘I’ll be fine, thanks Stan. I’ll catch a bus. See you next week.’

‘Another layer coming off?’ He grinned.

She shook her head and laughed. ‘Dream on Stan.’

‘I do lass, I do.’ He turned back. ‘Just make sure you’re honest with yourself, love.’

Nadia nodded, finished her drink, and wandered to the bus stop to look at the timetable. ‘Might as well walk rather than wait thirty minutes.’ She smiled. ‘Taking to myself again.’ She promised her feet a soak in the bath and walked back to the apartment. Stan’s words echoed in her head. Was she being honest when she said her feelings for Jake were safe?