‘Ray’s about. I hear things but haven’t seen him. We’ve never talked since, you know.’ She twisted her coat belt into a knot.

‘Okay, maybe it was a bit stupid, but I wouldn’t have got back in touch with you if I hadn’t gone in there, would I?’ He longed to touch the side of her face, to kiss her lips. But he was here to end it before he got in too deep.

‘You should dump that knuckle head.’

‘It’s not that simple.’

‘The guy’s a loser.’

‘He’s done a lot for me, helped me pay my rent, stuff like that.’ She pulled at the knitted scarf hanging loose round her neck. ‘I can’t stay long.’

‘We’ve just got here.’ He slipped his fingers around the edge of her scarf and gently pulled it away from her skin. ‘What’s this?’

‘It’s nothing.’ She tugged his hand away and pulled the scarf up.

‘If it’s nothing, show me.’ He caught hold of her hand and carefully unravelled the scarf. The skin on one side was mottled, red and purple.

‘It’s a game, a love bite, that’s all.’ She wouldn’t look at him.

‘What kind of fucking game?’

‘Tony was mucking about.’ She slid her hair out of the band and let it fall across her face. ‘He likes it a bit rough, you know.’

‘Around your neck? Am I meant to believe that?’

Ali stood up. ‘I know you’re not exactly friends.’

‘Err… you could say that. Did you know he helped your brothers kick the hell out of me?’

‘I didn’t. I’m sorry.’ She gathered up her bag.

‘What else has he done to you?’ He stood up too, pulse racing. The thought of him hurting her, touching her, made him want to spew his guts up. How did she end up with Tony, for God’s sake, of all people?

‘I have to go,’ she said backing away.

‘Finish with him, please,’ he said softly, taking her hand. ‘You deserve better than that.’

‘I need to think.’

‘Hey, remember that time we got away to London for the day?’

She smiled.

‘It was the first time I felt completely free, like I didn’t have to check over my shoulder.’

‘We had lunch outside in Covent Garden and the statue of the man painted gold made you jump.’

‘And you were so scared going up in the London Eye, you clung to me the whole way round.’

She nodded. ‘It was a great day.’

‘I’m sorry there weren’t more days like that.’ He took her hand. ‘Please don’t go back to him, Ali.’

‘I have to go. I’m sorry.’ She twisted away from him and ran down the path.

‘I’m going to call you on Friday,’ he shouted after her.

But she didn’t stop.