‘Uh...’

‘Uh…’ You hadn’t really thought about it like that. ‘Well, no, but that’s the point! It was silent.’

Emma gives you a look. ‘Right, yeah, okay. Remind me again how either of you were supposed to know who started it?’

You sigh, pushing your hands into your pockets. ‘Okay, fine, but… she suggested taking a break. This seriously wasn’t my idea.’

Emma nods. ‘Yeah, I get that – and you’ve done the right thing by respecting it, seriously. But.’ She raises a hand.

‘There’s always a but with you,’ you mutter. Emma laughs.

‘Sorry. Girls are complicated, man. But, it’s been how long now – a week? I absolutely, one hundred percent guarantee you she’s wishing she had someone to talk to. And cuddle. And cry on. And then talk some more. But…’

Emma gestures impatiently. ‘She’s probably feeling scared, because she’s just had a faceful of ex to remind her exactly how shitty relationships can be – and she’s probably confused, because she likes you already, and maybe that feels too soon. And she definitely misses you, because you don’t just get used to being on your own all of a sudden, and I bet she feels awful about pushing you away after the party.’

She’s counting the reasons off on one hand, looking thoughtful. You’re feeling slightly intimidated by the number of fingers already.

‘Oh, and she’s got a movie coming out, so she has to look happy all the time – and she probably feels guilty as well, because she didn’t make you wait for sex, and there are loads of girls who’d judge her for that. And probably some other stuff, that’s just the basics. So…’ Emma looks up.

‘She’s scared, guilty, confused, upset, she’s got to fake being happy all the time, and she misses you like crazy. And she can’t talk about this to anyone else in case they look at her like she’s a slut. So there’s only one question left, really.’

Emma looks meaningfully at you, like she’s expecting you to get it.

‘Yeah?’ you prompt, finally. ‘And that is?’

Emma slaps your arm playfully. ‘Jesus, man! What the hell are you still doing here? You know what you’ve got to do, right? Girls live for the big romantic gesture. And yours is so obvious it hurts.’

‘Really?’ you say, unconvinced. ‘It’s obvious what I should do?’

And then, suddenly, it is.

Emma winks at you. ‘Yeah, you got this, man. I can tell. Now go get her.’