‘OK.’ I get to my feet and we stand there for a second, not really knowing what to do, before he turns and walks back into my flat.

‘What about your stuff? Did you want to take it now or …?’

‘I can get it later; there’s nothing here that I need urgently.’

‘OK,’ I say, a lump in my throat.

‘Did you want me to walk you to the pub to meet the others? It’s on my way home.’

‘Oh, I’m not going to go now.’

‘Come on, what else are you going to do? Sit around and mope? Layla would want to be there for you. Plus Claudia seems great.’

‘She is.’

‘Go on, get your bag and I’ll walk you there.’

I rub at my face, which I’m sure is puffy and red from the tears. But sod it, I’ve just broken up with my boyfriend; I should be around my friends.

We walk mostly in silence to the pub and when we get there, Miles bends down and gives me a kiss on the cheek and we have the longest hug.

‘Goodnight, Edie.’

‘Goodnight, Miles.’

He walks off down the road and I start to head over to the pub entrance. I spot Claudia in the window laughing with Aaron.

As I push open the door, Tim spots me first.

‘Hey, Edie.’

The others look round and they turn and wave.

Layla gets up and pulls me towards her and Claudia reaches out and pats my arm.

‘No Miles?’

‘No Miles,’ I say, shaking my head.

Layla keeps one arm around me and squeezes my shoulder.

‘It’s OK, it was a good thing, I think. I don’t really want to talk about it now.’ My bottom lip starts to tremble. ‘But he thought that I shouldn’t be alone tonight so I thought I’d come.’

‘Absolutely,’ says Claudia.

‘Let me get you a drink.’ Tim stands up and puts his chair underneath me. ‘It’s my round.’

‘Quick, watch the moths fly away,’ says Layla, guiding me into Tim’s vacated chair.

Tim shoots her a look and then heads off to the bar with our order.

Layla starts to tell a story about when the two of them were first dating and Tim kept forgetting his wallet. Miles had been right, being with other people is exactly what I needed; perhaps he knew me better than I thought he did. It might have been the most amicable break-up in history, but it doesn’t mean it doesn’t sting.

Chapter 28