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‘Then why does it hurt so much?’ Jill asked, her voice muffled against Sophie’s shoulder.

‘Because you care about him,’ Amelia said, joining the embrace. ‘And caring about someone whilst knowing you have to keep distance from them—that’s one of the hardest things there is.’

They stood there for a long moment, the three friends holding each other whilst Jill cried quietly. The celebration had been real, the joy genuine. But underneath it was this—heartbreak and disappointment and the messy complexity of real life.

Eventually, Jill pulled back, wiping her eyes, attempting a watery smile. ‘I’m being ridiculous. This should be the happiest night of my life. I got my dream job. I’m staying in a place I love. I should be celebrating, not crying over a man I barely know.’

‘You can be both happy and sad,’ Amelia said. ‘Life’s complicated like that. You’re allowed to feel everything at once.’

‘Did he say anything else?’ Sophie asked. ‘About what happens now?’

‘He said he’d respect my decision. That he’d keep things professional at work. That when the divorce is final—if I’m still interested—he’d like to try again properly.’ Jill smiled sadly. ‘He was very understanding. Very mature about it. Which somehow makes it worse.’

‘How long until the divorce is final?’ Amelia asked.

‘He thinks another six months, maybe less. The property settlement is almost done, just waiting on valuations.’ Jill laughed bitterly. ‘Six months. That’s nothing, really. But it also feels like forever.’

‘So, you wait,’ Sophie said simply. ‘You focus on the hotel, on building your new life here. And in six months, if you still feel the same way and he’s properly free—’

‘Then maybe,’ Jill finished. ‘Maybe. If I haven’t changed my mind. If he hasn’t changed his. If we’re both still—’ She stopped, shaking her head. ‘I’m not thinking about that now. Right now, I’m thinking about The Happy Outback Hotel and learning everything I need to know to make it successful. That’s what matters. That’s what I can control.’

‘That’s very mature of you,’ Amelia said.

‘I don’t feel mature,’ Jill admitted. ‘I feel like crying and screaming and asking why life has to be so bloody complicated. But I’m twenty-two, I’ve got my whole future ahead of me, and I refuse to put my life on hold for a man who’s still technically married to someone else. Even if he is wonderful. Even if I—’ She stopped, her voice breaking again. ‘Even if I think I could fall in love with him if I let myself.’

They walked back to the campsite slowly, Jill between Amelia and Sophie, all three of them quiet now. The night was beautiful—stars brilliant overhead, the air cool and clean, the outback stretching endlessly around them.

‘You know what the worst part is?’ Jill said, finally, as they approached the van. ‘He’s exactly the kind of man I’d want to be with. Kind, honest, hardworking, funny. He makes me laugh. He makes me feel seen. We just—we fit, you know? But the timing is all wrong. And I learned from my friend that timing matters just as much as connection.’

‘Your mum would be proud of you,’ Sophie said. ‘For having the strength to walk away from something that could hurt you, even when you don’t want to.’

‘Would she?’ Jill asked. ‘Or would she say I’m being too cautious? That I should take the chance whilst I can?’

‘She’d say you’re protecting yourself,’ Amelia said firmly. ‘And that’s never wrong. Ryan knows where you stand. When he’s free, if he’s serious, he’ll come back. And if he doesn’t—’

‘Then he wasn’t worth waiting for anyway,’ Jill finished, though she didn’t sound convinced. ‘I know. I know all of this logically. I just wish my heart would catch up with my head.’

Inside the van, they settled into their sleeping bags. Sophie fell asleep quickly, exhausted from the emotional evening. But Amelia lay awake, listening to Jill’s quiet sniffles in the darkness, wishing there was something more she could say or do.

‘Amelia?’ Jill whispered. ‘You still awake?’

‘Yeah.’

‘Do you think I’m making a mistake? Pushing him away?’

Amelia thought carefully before answering. ‘I think you’re doing what you need to do to protect yourself. And I think Ryan will respect that if he’s the man you think he is. Six months isn’t that long, really. If it’s meant to be, it’ll still be there when he’s properly free.’

‘And if it’s not?’ Jill asked.

‘Then at least you’ll know,’ Amelia said gently. ‘And you’ll still have the hotel, and this community, and us. You’ll still have built something worthwhile here.’

‘I suppose,’ Jill said. After a long pause: ‘I really thought tonight would be perfect, you know? Getting the job I wanted, celebrating with everyone, maybe telling Ryan I was staying and seeing his face light up. Instead, I got half of that and—’ Her voice caught. ‘And lost the other half before I even really had it.’

‘I’m sorry,’ Amelia said, because there was nothing else to say.

‘Me too,’ Jill whispered.

Eventually, Jill’s breathing evened out into sleep. But Amelia lay awake longer, thinking about how life could give you everything you wanted and break your heart simultaneously. How joy and sorrow could exist in the same moment. How Jill had achieved her dream and lost her chance at love in the same evening.