Peter meets me by the end of the Queens Pier, right at the southern end of the promenade in Ramsey at about one in the afternoon. The pier is the Island’s most prominent landmark, almost 800m long and now more than 200 years old, it stretches out into what is, today at least, a calm sea. It was extensively restored more than sixty years ago and is open to the public to walk the entire length.

“I thought we were walking in one of the glens?” I ask as Peter arrives on foot. “From here?”

“Well, yes. I hope you don’t mind, but I sometimes make this a bit of a work-out. It’ll only take a couple of hours, less if you’re fit enough.”

“Oh, I should be fine. I played a lot of soccer at school and I think I’m in fair shape.”

“Great, let’s get started.”

With the tide more than half-way out, we can walk along the beach towards the south, until we come to a small stream that passes beneath a strange arched bridge. There’s clearly a footpath under the nearer arch and Peter leads us up this path and back inland through trees that provide deep shade over the bubbling stream to our left.

At the top of the path, we cross the main road along the east coast of the Island and head up a narrow, very steep side track that soon turns into a deeply forested living tunnel.

By the time we emerge into the sunlight, almost 200m higher up the hillside, I’m panting heavily and need to drop onto the grassy hedge to catch my breath. Peter is also breathing hard, but clearly is a bit fitter than I am. I only need a minute and the next section of our route is slightly downhill, giving me a chance to get my normal breath back and allowing my heart rate to slow once more.

We cross, then walk a short distance uphill along the side of the main over hill road to the capital, taking care to be seen and avoided by the numerous AI taxis using the road.

In earlier times, but well into the 2020s, this road formed part of the famous – or infamous – TT motorcycle racing circuit. Over the more than 120 years of the existence of racing here, several hundred competitors lost their lives, but it all seemed to fade into history with the fall of the combustion engine and ever more strict safety requirements.

Spectators came for the roar of the engines and it just wasn’t the same with just the hum of electric motors. The roads, however, remain, just dramatically safer than they once were.

Now our roads are essentially totally automated and accidents, while never completely eliminated, are very rare and almost never fatal.

The climb along the main road is not a long one and we are soon walking slowly down another overgrown footpath which Peter assures me is all downhill.

“Do you often walk this route?” I ask him as we descend gently.

“Maybe every three or four weeks. I have a few other routes that I mix and match. They’re all similar in distance and climb. It’s a good counterpoint to my gym sessions.”

“I can see how it might be. It’s pretty strenuous. Maybe I’m not in as good shape as I thought.”

“No, Nick, you’re actually doing pretty well. It is mostly down from here, but there is a short uphill bit in about another half kilometre.”

“How often do you go to the gym?”

“Three times a week if I can. It’s part of the facilities at the Nexima offices and it’s free for all employees. Turn left here, we’ll drop into the glen and then head back down through the wilder part of the woods over towards Clybane.”

I follow Peter down into a deep forest glen and we double back along the side of a narrow trickling stream and across a small wooden footbridge. We head slightly downhill once more and soon come out into a more open space above a rocky cliff that overlooks the town of Ramsey. A couple of more recent residential buildings almost match our height, but much of the old town is visible below us.

“Wow. I’ve never been up here. The view is really very good, even though I know that we’re not very high up. I can see why you like to walk here.”

“Yes, I do like it. It’s even better with good company.”

“Peter, I’m sorry, but it this a date? I’m not sure whether it is or not.”

“Oh! I didn’t think of it like that, but it does feel a little like one. Would you be bothered or stressed if I said it was a date?”

“Honestly, I don’t know. I don’t even know why I asked the question. It’s just that Tasha was teasing me about it after you asked me and she called it a date. I was pretty defensive, but I’m not sure that was the right reaction. I like spending time with you.”

“Good, I like spending time with you and we don’t need to call it a date, or anything else for that matter. Let’s just call it a workout.”

“Yes, it’s a workout.”

“Listen, Nick, I know how this might feel for you. You told me that you have difficulty with friendship and relationships. I feel that I need to be totally honest with you though.”

“Okay, honest about what exactly?”

“Well, everything really. First, I would really like to call this a date. It does feel like one in a strange way. Second, if we’re calling it a workout, then I’d like to go for another workout with you soon.

“Third, and I promise, this is the last point, I think I really like you, not only as a friend, but romantically.” Peter looks at me, his bright blue eyes full of concern with just the hint of a kindly smile on his full lips. “So, that’s probably more honest than I’ve ever been with anybody, so please, don’t freak out.”

“Right,” I tell him after a very long couple of minutes. “Now it’s my turn to be honest.” I stop again to gather my thoughts.

“When I saw you at the party, I immediately thought that you were very attractive, but that was just the hormonal part of me, you know the sexual desire. I know I can’t do that if the romantic part of the equation is missing.

“When you were so kind to me and took care of me, I thought that you were really nice and we could perhaps be friends. Over the last week or so, as we’ve talked to each other, I’m beginning to think that I might have deeper feelings for you.

“I’ve never had these feelings before, Peter, and I’m a little scared by them. I really didn’t think I could have such feelings for anybody and it’s more than a little difficult to adjust. As we keep talking here now, I’m a little happier to call this a date, particularly if that’s how you feel about it too.”

“Thank you,” Peter says as the silence threatens to drag on for an eternity.

“For what exactly?”

“For being honest with me, and most of all for being honest with yourself. Why don’t we schedule another workout for next weekend and that will give us time to think and reflect.”

“Do you have another suitable walking route in mind?”

“Yes, I do. It’s a shorter walk, but pretty punishing. You’ll love it.”

“Okay, I’ll go on another ‘workout’ with you next Saturday and we’ll see how things go.”

“Good, now we still have to get back to the start of the walk, so let’s get going.”

Tasha and I had fallen in to the habit of having Sunday lunch at the little café in the main street when we were about fifteen. It was a way to escape from our parents and chat away about school and almost anything else. It’s not a tradition that I want to give up on and I think Tasha feels the same.

We don’t order anything too heavy and always leave plenty of room for dessert, as the puddings are really excellent.

“So, how was your shopping trip yesterday? Did you get everything you wanted?”

“Oh yes, everything. Jack’s eyes nearly popped out when I stepped out of the changing room to show him my new bikini. That was exactly the reaction from him that I wanted.”

“Oh, you tart! You’ll hurt the poor lad. He’s already crazy about you.”

“I know. I’m pretty sure I like him just as much. How come I never noticed him before?”

“I don’t know, but if you’ve now found one another, then what difference does it make.”

“None, I guess. I just want to make up for lost time. Do you think it is too soon for us to do more than kissing?”

“How the hell should I know anything about that?” I laugh. “I’m hardly an expert on romantic attraction. We’ve had that discussion already.”

“Nick, I’m actually trying to be serious. I have to talk to somebody and you’re my best friend.”

“I’m sorry, Tasha, I’ll try. I think it’s all down to how you both feel. If you’re happy to move things along, then I think that’s fine, as long as you both communicate. Do you think Jack feels the same way?”

“I think he might. When he saw me in the bikini, he was clearly excited, if you know what I mean.”

“And you were looking to see, were you?”

“No, but, honestly, it was hard to miss. You didn’t tell me he was so, well, big.”

“Hey, he’s only my best friend. And why would that sort of thing come up in normal conversation? I don’t know him that well! Actually, okay, in the showers at school, I may have taken a glance. You may have a point, although, obviously, I’ve never seen him in any such state of excitement.”

“We’ll have to see how we go, won’t we?”

“Yes, just like everybody else. Erm… You do have your other implant up-to-date, don’t you?”

“Nick, you’re just as bad as my mum. She already asked me that!”

“Safe sex is happy sex!”

“Right, that’s enough about my love life, what about your date with Peter?”

“I told you; it wasn’t a date; it was a workout.”

“Okay, is that a weird euphemism for sex in the woods or something?”

“No, it was a workout. We went for a pretty hard walk up over the hills. I really did get a workout.”

“Fine. So, are you going to go for another workout?”

“Okay, enough already. We talked during the walk. I asked if it was a date. He told me that he liked me and he thought it would be nice if it was a date. He knows all about how hard this is for me and we have agreed to take it very slow.”

“Good, that seems to be progress for both of you.”

“Yes, I do think I might be starting to like him back and we are going for another workout this coming Saturday. Peter told me this one would be harder, but that I’d like the destination.”

“Does that mean we need to do Sunday lunch again for progress reports?”

“Yes, I think it does. It’ll be your turn to pay for the main course.”