It’s my turn to act surprised. ‘Somebody broke your heart?’ I can’t believe it. Who would do such a thing? ‘Who was it? Taylor Swift?’
Cam chuckles. ‘It was a long time ago.’ Then I see something like pain flicker in his eyes as he reaches for another sip of his wine.
‘I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to get personal.’ I did. I would like to know everything, the deepest ins and outs and ups and downs of your entire love life, please. ‘I’m a professional nosy parker. Please forgive me.’
This makes him grin. ‘So that’s all you need to know about me. What about you? Any broken hearts to report?’
I shake my head and give him a sad look. ‘There was someone but he… ended it. I just wasn’t… Anyway, I’m over it now.’ I exhale loudly and in a depressing manner. ‘Imagine, twenty-six and looking forward to life as a dusty old maid. Which is fine.’
His jaw falls open slightly.
‘Because I’m married to my job,’ I explain. ‘Not because there’s something wrong with me… you know.’
It very much feels as though I’m accidentally planting seeds that there is definitely something wrong with me.
‘I really like my own company,’ I say quickly. ‘So I don’t go out much. University came and went, and before I knew it several years went by, and I’d forgotten how to flirt. All the men my age settled down with girls that were quicker off the mark than me and so now, there’s hardly any decent men left in the town I live in. Just one rather arrogant male.’
Cam is looking at me in a thoughtful way.
‘But what about all those men at university? Those wild nights working as a cocktail waitress? The exotic pole dancing?’
Oh. My. Fudging. Word. I am going to kill Lois.
‘No! Absolutely not. I did no such thing!’
‘So, you made that up just to get on the show?’ Cam smiles. ‘It’s okay. We hear all kinds of horseshit from people desperate to get on the show.’
I love my sister and she did rather have fun for the both of us at college, but she’s obviously thought nothing of telling a whole load of lies to get on the show.
‘No. I must have… it must have come out wrong. I was actually co-vice-captain of the hummus society.’
‘The hummus society? Sounds wild.’
I nod keenly. ‘Yes. It was. There are over twenty-six different types. There were tastings to organise every single weekend. Did you know Mexico is the hummus capital of the world?’
He sips his wine again, this time taking a bigger slug. ‘Surely, the Middle East is the hummus capital of the world.’ He’s so culinarily literate.
‘I meant the Western world.’ I quickly top him up. ‘Hummus originated in Egypt if you’re going to be pedantic about it. Anyway, I’m not desperate to get on the show. I just thought it might challenge me. I’ve been a bit stuck lately.’
‘You’re finding it difficult to move on?’
‘Yes,’ I admit. ‘I guess this is my kick up the backside. Something to jolt me out of my boring routine.’
Cam nods. ‘I totally get that.’
We share an intimate look. He really does have the loveliest kind eyes. They are glinting in the candlelight.
‘You don’t want to risk getting your heart broken again,’ I say understandingly. ‘Well, let me tell you, sometimes it’s best to just let it go. Not all girls run around breaking hearts. Sometimes it is the men who do the breaking. They say the first cut is the deepest.’ It’s just one cliché after another tonight. ‘I’m sure whoever it was regrets it big time.’
A half-smile tugs sadly at his mouth. ‘I’m sure if she wasn’t married to my best friend, she would.’
‘Oh, I’m so sorry!’ I gasp. ‘I had no idea. That was terribly insensitive.’
‘That’s okay. It was a long time ago.’ Cam picks up his drink, avoiding my gaze.
I gulp back the desire to sweep him up into a hug. ‘That’s awful. Such betrayal must have really hurt.’
He looks up to meet my gaze. It did hurt him. It’s in the haunted look, and in the brave smile that doesn’t quite reach his eyes.