‘He passed out in his room twenty minutes ago. Are you coming back?’

I was. Yeah, of course I was. My text, had I sent it, would have made that clear, made her laugh. Me and my derring-do.

She opened her front door, broke off eye contact.

‘Everything OK?’ I said, following her into the living room.

Cedric barking in Noel and Winford’s room.

Biddy said nothing, looked at me, her big, sad eyes, looked away.

‘You’re angry with me,’ I said. ‘I can just leave if that’s easier?’

‘Yes, I’m angry, Chris.’ She paced forwards, stood between me and the living-room door, blocking my escape. ‘How could you just leave like that?’

‘Well, as I was saying on the phone –’

‘We’re not fucking sixteen,’ she said. ‘Sneaking off because my housemate comes home drunk is not proper adult behaviour.’

Tears in her eyes.

My Biddy.

‘Josh was feeling uncomfortable,’ I said. ‘He didn’t want to argue with Win again, which I completely understand because I feel the same. He’s –’

‘You maybe need to grow up.’

‘You maybe need to stop being so unfair.’ I whispered in case Noel was awake. ‘I like Win, but when he’s wasted he’s really unpleasant. He’s the same with Josh, as you know, which is why he left here the last time in a bad way. If anyone treated you like that, I’d be pretty quick to leap to your defence.’

Bang, take that – a winning blow. Biddy nodded, looked at me, started crying, for fuck …

‘You don’t need to cry,’ I said. I could go to her, comfort her, she was right there in front of me.

‘I was the same with Aidan,’ she said, sniffing, her face crumpling. ‘What’s wrong with me? Why don’t I stand up for the people I love?’

‘Look, Biddy, I don’t need you to defend me,’ I said. ‘I just want you to understand why it felt like the right thing for me to get out of here quickly with Josh when Win came home. It was a duty of care.’

‘You could have texted,’ she said.

Bang, take that – a winning blow. I looked at the floor, felt exhausted, nodded reluctantly.

* * *

I’d just finished making the kids’ lunch the next day when Biddy phoned. Could I come over to hers, to make up?

‘No, sorry, I can’t.’ It was Saturday, Sarah was working – I had the kids. That’s what happened when you dated someone with family obligations.

‘You don’t think it’s important we make up?’ she said.

I heard rustling, someone whispering. ‘Where are you?’

‘At Kelly’s house. She’s giving me a neck rub on her sofa.’

‘Sounds romantic.’

‘Chris …’

‘I’m sorry. Look, it’s not a good time. And you’re out anyway.’

‘I can be back at mine in five.’

‘Yeah, sorry. I can’t.’

‘Well …’ She broke off.