I watched Sam’s expression carefully. Had I said too much? It was obvious to me that he was exceptionally lonely in London. Tiff had told me that, if she saw him in the hospital canteen, he was either on his own or he was with colleagues but not really with them – more of a bystander to their conversation and banter.

The loneliness was easy to recognise because I’d experienced it first-hand when I’d moved to London six years ago. I’d phone Mum and Karen, making out that I had loads of new friends and an active social life when the reality was that I’d moved into a shared flat with the most anti-social group of individuals I’d ever encountered. I hated my job, my colleagues were an unwelcoming clique, and the only places I ever went were the supermarket, the library, or the cinema… on my own. Thankfully I secured the role at Past Lives Museum a few months later and, as soon as my lease was up, moved into a flat with friendly people, at which point I started to love my life in London. I’d loved it even more when I’d moved in with Tiff, Leah and Drew.

The door buzzer rang indicating the arrival of pizza and the flat burst into life. I watched the easy banter my flatmates had with each other and with Sam, smiling to myself. I was going to miss them so much but they’d promised lots of visits up north.

I could have happily stayed in the lounge chatting all evening but that wasn’t going to get the packing done. They’d all offered to help me and I’d turned them down saying I had plenty of time but I didn’t miss the raised eyebrows when I said Sam was staying to help.

‘He’s just a friend,’ I told Leah as we took the empty pizza boxes down to the recycling bin.

‘You say that, but remember I saw you two snuggled up on the sofa last week. Very cosy.’

‘Behave! You know what he’s been through.’ He’d told Tiff about Nikki while I was away and had said she could tell the other two.

‘I know. You’ve both had horrendous experiences which perhaps makes you kindred spirits.’

‘The last thing on my mind right now is a new relationship and I’m sure Sam feels exactly the same.’

‘We’ll see.’

I put my hand on the knob to my bedroom door and turned to Sam. ‘Before we go in, I should warn you that I have lots of bears. They’re not everyone’s cup of tea, but I love them.’

He looked round my bedroom in silence then slowly walked towards my bedside drawers. Bending down, he stared at Diamond for a moment. ‘Did your mum make this one?’