He laughs. ‘I’ve spent way more than you on this internship and I’ll soon be off on my next adventure. I think you can splash out on a gift without putting yourself on a guilt trip.’ He sounds almost dismissive.

‘Aiden, if something was wrong at your end, you would level with me, wouldn’t you?’

The silence is painful. The longer I listen to it, the more the sound seems to grow. How can silence sound so deafening?

‘More wrong than the fact that I have no idea what’s happening at your end? You’re with a group of people with whom you are growing close, building relationships as if they are a part of your future. I’m not blaming you, it’s the same for me here. But where do we draw the line?’

‘Are we talking about me, or you?’

Suddenly I can hear his breathing and it’s laboured.

‘Well, I’m talking about Nico. From what Hannah said, you two are very close.’

Is he accusing me of having an affair, when all that’s going around in my head is thoughts of him and Joss?

‘He’s my mentor, Aiden. That’s all. Being here I’ve discovered a new side to me, the one I’ve never had time to explore. And I can tell your experiences are changing you in subtle ways, too. But I still love you with all my heart, nothing will change that.’

He groans. ‘I’m a fool, ignore me.’ He sounds sorry, but what are his words actually telling me? Is he a fool because he’s slept with Joss? Or is he a fool because he thinks I’ve slept with Nico and he’s jealous?

‘Let’s not torture each other, Aiden. This is supposed to be a year of adventure. Most people get that freedom before they settle down. We didn’t, and fate sent us that windfall for a reason. You lived for your job and were so caught up in the people’s lives it touched, that you just ran out of steam. I was—’ I pause, desperately casting around for the right word.

‘Happy and I upset everything.’ He sounds dejected.

‘No. Don’t say that.’

‘But it’s true.’

Is he right? Was I totally happy, or living on autopilot letting one day follow another?

‘Maybe I was in a bit of a rut. You know what a worrier I am and this has given me time to stand back a little and see things in a slightly different way. I feel that I’m a better, more rounded person for it.