Ben glanced over his shoulder nervously, before closing the door a fraction more. ‘Bella’s not feeling too good.’ His eyes flickered away from them as he spoke and he pursed his lips slightly.

‘What’s the matter with her?’ Freya’s tone suggested she didn’t believe for a second that Bella was ill.

‘Um,’ Ben swallowed hard and looked up, as if hoping for inspiration from the sky. ‘She’s … er, she’s just …’

‘She’s refusing to see us, isn’t she?’ Freya sounded furious.

‘Freya!’ Matt shuffled from foot to foot, feeling a mixture of embarrassment for his friend and sadness that he was allowing Bella to remove them from his life so effectively. A sudden wave of emotion passed over him. He loved Ben like a brother and it felt like a bereavement to lose him like this. In some ways it was worse than a bereavement because the person he’d lost was alive and well and standing in front of him, apparently happy to cut Matt out of his life for ever.

‘I’m right, aren’t I, Ben?’ Freya’s voice pierced Matt’s thoughts.

Ben sighed and ran his hand through his hair. ‘No, Freya, you’re not right,’ he said, in a weary, sing-song voice. ‘She’s just not very well.’

‘How very convenient!’

Matt put a warning hand on Freya’s arm but she shook him off crossly. ‘Ever since you met her, Ben, she’s been trying to cut you off from us. And your family …’

‘She’s fine with my family, actually,’ Ben interrupted.

‘Is she?’ Freya stormed. ‘Because that’s not what you told me when we had lunch.’

Suddenly, Bella stepped into view behind Ben, glaring at the back of his head. ‘Ben! Can you close the door, please, you’re letting in a draught.’

‘Hi, Bella, you look well?’ Freya snapped, her voice sharp with sarcasm.

There was a tense silence, during which it seemed as if time stood still. Matt thought he could actually hear his own heart thumping, as he watched Bella’s fine, delicate features harden. Her eyes narrowed and her chin jutted out slightly further as she moved from behind Ben. ‘Actually, I’m not well,’ she said defiantly, her expression challenging them to dispute her. ‘Ben, close the door, please.’

Ben hesitated, before throwing a pleading glance in Matt and Freya’s direction. ‘I’m really sorry, guys. Let’s rearrange for another time, eh?’

Matt nodded unhappily and began to turn away but Freya wasn’t giving up without a fight. ‘There won’t be another time, Ben! Don’t you see what she’s doing? For Christ’s sake, why don’t you grow a pair? Matt is your oldest friend and you’re treating him like shit! Shame on you!’ She reached for Matt’s hand and together they walked away, leaving Ben watching their retreating backs. As they reached the end of the path, the front door slammed with what sounded to Matt like a sickening finality.

They didn’t speak as they walked towards the tube station, the leaden grey sky and the indecisive drizzle that fell half-heartedly, matching their gloomy mood. They gripped each other’s hands for support, both in shock at what had just happened. Matt could feel Freya’s concerned eyes watching him and he felt a sudden surge of love for her. She was so loyal, so easy-going, so reasonable, compared to the prickliness of Bella. With Ben apparently gone from his life, he would need her more than ever. He pulled her into an embrace as they stood on the station platform. ‘I love you,’ he whispered in her ear. ‘Thank you for always being there for me.’