‘Shit, Dom.’ I grab a cushion and clock him with it. ‘What the hell am I meant to do with that?’

‘Say you want to be with me too?’ His handsome features are filled with puppy-dog-like hope.

‘I can’t just… I’ve only…’

Matt’s face suddenly materialises in my mind, paralysing me into silence.

‘Are you still in love with me, Lex?’

‘I’m… yes. Of course I am.’ I look him square in the face. ‘It’s not that simple though. I have a new life here and I actually really love this city.’

‘I’ll move down. I can get a job here, no problem. Birmingham has a big financial district.’

‘I can’t ask you to do that.’

‘You didn’t. I offered.’ He gives me a playful nudge.

‘That is true.’ I shake my head, trying to clear away the jumbled thoughts that have gathered like seagulls to a chip wrapper.

‘Look, I know I’ve turned up out of nowhere and landed this on you. You’ve had no time to digest it. How about I leave you to think about things overnight? I’m staying along by the Mailbox. I could take you for brunch in the morning and we could talk things through a bit more.’

‘The morning… oh, I…’ My head goes into a spin as I remember that’s when Matt and I have our date. ‘What about the evening? Maybe give me a bit more time? Unless you’re flying home before then…?’

Dom’s disappointed but I can see he’s trying to hide it. ‘I’m here til Monday. Took a day off in the hope we could spend tomorrow together. But if you need that time, that’s fine.’

I swallow guiltily. ‘OK, thanks, I appreciate it. Let’s meet later tomorrow then.’

We get up from the sofa and walk to my tiny hallway in silence, both consumed by our own thoughts. I can tell Dom is troubled by me putting him off. I’m certainly feeling guilty enough for doing it, despite him being the one to have turned up unannounced. As I reach for the handle of my apartment door, Dom surprises me by taking my hand. His touch is different to Matt’s: familiar, warm and reassuring. Like a cosy blanket I want to dive under. It sparks something in me and I feel the need to be totally honest with him.

‘Dom, the real reason I asked if we can meet later in the day is because I have a date tomorrow.’

I brace myself for his response.

‘A date?’ He seems genuinely surprised and equally disappointed. ‘Have you known the guy long?’

‘No. We bumped into each other a few times’ – I decide it’s best to leave out the fact that Sasha and I were like a heat-seeking missile trying to track Matt down – ‘and we’ve been on one date. Tomorrow’s our second.’

‘Sure.’ Dom’s face has become unreadable. ‘I suppose I shouldn’t have expected you not to move on. I’ve had a few dates myself. But they just showed me all the more that you were the one.’