Brian laughed. He knew it sounded silly, implausible, painfully romantic – all very much not Brian things – but that was part of the excitement. "I did! I mean, within reason. Upon further reflection it's possible she read my mind. Either way, I went in there to get flowers for three people and left having crossed my girlfriend off the recipient list..."

Well, girlfriend was too strong a word for the girl he was seeing. But still. He had girlfriends on the brain.