Jason didn’t bat an eyelid. He’d long gotten used to the new, angrier Dani, a personality he surely wouldn’t have fallen for. She noticed Jason look over to his left, towards Mrs Miller’s apartment. Dani leaned her head out into the corridor and saw the Tesco delivery man was now there, unloading crates of food. Mrs Miller was standing by her doorway with a deep scowl on her face as she stared over at Jason suspiciously.

‘How did you get up here?’ Dani said, turning back to Jason.

‘The door was open,’ Jason said. ‘Can I come in?’

Dani once again looked over at her neighbour who was still giving her the evil eye, as though Dani were operating an illegal brothel and Jason was a degenerate punter rather than her ex-boyfriend who’d been living there not all that long ago, having moved in with her after she’d come out from hospital to help look after her during her ongoing recovery.

‘Yeah. Probably best if you do.’

Dani stepped back and Jason followed her in, shutting the door behind him. He’d obviously been home from work already before coming over because he was now dressed in trainers, jeans, v-neck jumper and his faithful leather jacket. Jason was tall – six foot four – and on the bulky side of lean. His appearance and his kind manner were what had drawn Dani to him in the past. They had drawn many women to him, Dani knew. Not that he was a player. He was kind and modest.

Jason didn’t make a move to take off either the jacket or his shoes, and in the end the two of them just stood awkwardly in the small hallway, a couple of feet away from each other.

‘I don’t think she likes me too much,’ Jason said.

‘Mrs Miller? I don’t think she ever did. Don’t take it personally, she doesn’t like anyone much. Except for Philip Schofield, I think. And sometimes the Tesco guy. But not that one.’

Jason smiled and Dani nearly caught herself doing the same thing. Nearly.

‘It’s really great to have you back at work,’ Jason said.

‘Yeah,’ Dani said.

There was another awkward silence.

‘I’m glad you’re ok.’

‘Who said I’m ok?’

‘Well, I mean, you’re back now. That’s a good thing, right?’

‘Jason, why have you come here?’

‘Because I wanted to see you.’

‘And now you’ve seen me. So is that it?’

‘No. I wanted to talk to you too.’

‘About what?’

‘About us.’

‘I’m not doing this now.’

‘Why not?’

‘Because I can’t.’

‘You can’t just ignore me forever, Dani. It’s been months already.’

‘I’m well aware how long it’s been.’

‘I still care about you.’

‘I’m not sure we even know each other anymore.’

Jason looked hurt.