‘Freddie, can you go and wash your hands, please?’ Nick said. ‘Bella, did you want tea, coffee or wine?’

‘Wine would be lovely, thank you. White if you have it.’

‘Daddy, can I play on the PlayStation, please?’

‘Of course you can, mate, if you’ve washed your hands. I think you’ve earned it today, don’t you, Bella?’ He glanced up at her from under dark lashes and her stomach flipped over. The easy gesture as they all gathered in his kitchen made her feel a little less self-conscious. Though they’d been neighbours for years she hadn’t made it further than the front step to borrow teabags and walking over the threshold had sent nerves shooting into her stomach.

‘You definitely have, Freddie. You’ve worked so hard today. Thank you for everything you’ve done.’

‘Look at this, Bella. This is my favourite game.’ Freddie began telling her all about it, pulling her over to the sofa and getting her to sit beside him. He didn’t stop talking for about ten minutes and even then, only paused long enough for Nick to bring her over a glass of wine.

‘Make yourself comfortable, Bella. I’m just going to clear some room in the kitchen and then we can start making the pizzas.’

‘Fab, I’m starving.’

‘Me too,’ Nick replied, giving another almost shy smile.

Bella stared at her wine for a second, willing her chest to stop knotting. Was it wrong to feel like this so soon after her break-up? So much had changed for her since then and since Evan’s visit to the school. He’d become a different person without her realising it and now he was gone she could do as she pleased. It had been a long time since Evan had smiled at her in the way Nick had. It had been even longer since Evan had kissed her in a passionate, tear all your clothes off way. They’d been growing apart so slowly she hadn’t really realised it before now.

‘I nearly killed him!’ shouted Freddie, leaping in the air and flopping back onto the sofa.

‘Calm down, mate,’ Nick called out from the kitchen. ‘Sorry,’ he said to Bella. ‘He just gets a bit carried away. It’s not really a violent game. It’s only Lego.’

‘It’s fine.’ Bella chuckled, standing up from the sofa and coming to join him in the kitchen. ‘Honestly, please don’t think of me as Miss Moore. I’m not going to tell him or you off. This is your house and I’m very grateful to be asked in for dinner.’

‘It’s lovely to have you here.’