“He seems real nice,” said Susan, talking about a guy she’d been seeing. “But he can be a bit of a wet lettuce at times.”

“Oh, one of those,” said Mary, pursing her lips. “I went out with a bloke like that once. He used to make me take my shoes off before I came inside his flat. I can’t be dealing with that.”

“Well, the trouble with Keith is that he doesn’t want to do anything that involves alcohol,” said Susan with a grimace.

“Is that a bad thing?” I asked.

“Yes, very bad. He only ever wants to go to the cinema or out for coffee. I can’t get him to come to a pub with me to save my life, and don’t even get me started on nightclubs. The problem is, I can’t do the deed without alcohol, so sex has been a no-go area. I’m just not confident enough to do it sober.”

I tensed up a little at her mention of sex. Not because I was at all embarrassed talking about this stuff with them. My teaching style had always been very casual and easy-going in that sense. The trouble was, Stu was right behind me, and I had the feeling he was listening in on our conversation. I could also feel his eyes on me, wandering over the back of my neck, over my shoulders, down my hips. It was eerie, but I just knew he was watching me. Studying. Looking for cracks.

“Well, do you both have to be drunk? Why don’t you just drink and let him stay sober?”

Susan shook her head. “No, it has to be both of us, otherwise I’ll still be self-conscious because I’ll know he’s going to remember everything.”

“You don’t want him to remember you had sex?” I asked, frowning.

Susan threw her hands up in the air. “Hey look! I never said I was normal. This is just how I operate.”

I had to admit, insecurity was the last thing I expected of Susan. She just always seemed so confident, never afraid to speak her mind. Though I guessed we were all a muddle of contradictions when it came down to it.

“You’ve obviously got body issues,” said Mary. “Which is ridiculous because look at you. You’re only a slip of a thing. But I get it. When I was your age I had a fantastic figure, but I never believed it. I always felt lacking in some way. Then after I hit forty I just didn’t give a crap anymore. To hell with all that insecurity bull, I was going to have sex with who I liked, when I liked, and I wouldn’t let anyone tell me otherwise.” She paused to point at Susan. “You should be exactly the same. Enjoy your life, because it’ll be over like that,” she finished with a click of her fingers.

“I suppose you’re right,” said Susan, her confidence bolstered though she still seemed a little sceptical.

Mary winked at her, pleased that her pep talk had proved relatively successful.

I smiled to myself. Seeing friendships blossom between my students was always something I took great pleasure in. And since there was such a mix of age groups in adult classes, I felt like everybody could learn from each other.

“What about you, Miss Anderson?” Susan enquired. “Have you ever tried online dating?”

I grimaced a little and shook my head. “No, I’ve, uh, never tried it.”

“Why not? You should be getting out there like me and Susan, trying all the different flavours,” said Mary with a saucy grin, and I actually felt myself starting to blush.

“She’s right,” Susan agreed then eyed me up and down. “Though I’m not being funny, you’ll probably need to get yourself some new clobber.”

I glanced at my worn jeans and white shirt. “What’s wrong with my clothes?”

“You want the honest truth?” she asked, and I nodded, bracing myself. Susan never pulled any punches.

Taking another look at my outfit, she continued, “Well, no offence, but you dress like a lesbian. And not one of those stylish lesbos with the biker jackets and choppy bobs, but the plain-Jane ones who wear baggy chinos and checked shirts.”

I let out a surprised laugh while Mary elbowed her in the side. “Go easy, would ya? She asked for honesty, not to be insulted.”

“Sometimes honesty is insulting.” Susan shrugged. “You’re not offended, are ya, Miss Anderson?”

I smiled. “Not at all. You’re right about my clothes. I’ve always been pretty inept when it comes to fashion.”

“You see?” she said, eyeing Mary. “She doesn’t mind. Oh em gee! I just had a great idea. Why don’t you let us give you a makeover? Then we can help you set up a Tinder account.”

“Don’t get carried away,” I said, chuckling. “I think fashion advice is where I draw the line.”

“Oh, you’re no fun,” Susan pouted in disappointment.

“You should seriously give Tinder a try some time, though,” said Mary. “A pretty thing like you needs to be getting out there.”

“Please don’t,” another voice joined our conversation. It was Kian. “Tinder’s full of perverts, and you’re too classy for unsolicited dick pics, Miss Anderson.”

I shot him a smile. “Why, thank you, Kian.”

He blushed a little and Susan turned to slap him on the shoulder. “Teacher’s pet.”

“I’m just trying to give her a more rounded picture. You two are painting it like a single lady’s paradise. Wankers!”

“Too right,” said Stu, finally speaking up. His deep, masculine voice had a weird effect on me. “People who use Tinder are all a bunch of wankers.” Kian chuckled, and they both high-fived. Both Mary and Susan looked unimpressed. I was relieved when we reached the library, because I could tell Mary was just about to confront Stu for basically calling her a wanker.

I swear, sometimes it felt like I was teaching teenagers. Well, at least they made me laugh.

“Here we are,” I announced before turning to address everyone. “You have half an hour to find a book, then we’ll meet back at the check-in desk at eleven thirty.” They all nodded and moved by me while I levelled my gaze on Stu.

“Have you got a library card?”

He shook his head.

“Okay then, come with me and I’ll grab you an application form. They’ll give you a temporary card so you can check a book out today, then they’ll post the permanent one to you in a week or so.”

“You shouldn’t listen to them,” he said as we stepped through the entryway.