‘I told you, I don’t care,’ he repeats sternly, refusing to back down, and it annoys me a little. A reminder of his favourite way to hurt me in the past, and I narrow my gaze at him.

‘You don’t care if I like you?’ I prod, not letting this go because he started something in his car, and we never actually got this out between us. A swirling tension in my lower belly warns me to put it to bed, but he has stoked my fire.

Alexi sighs and closes his laptop as though he has ...