‘Yeah, I—’ She hadn’t intended on saying anything more as her verbal diarrhoea seemed to get the better of her whenever she was around him. But under his kind gaze she felt she could speak. ‘I didn’t want to bore you. I feel like I’m always banging on about my broken heart.’

‘You won’t bore me.’

Sometimes, Nick could look rather stern and forbidding but the small crinkles that formed at the edge of his eyes as he smiled brought character to his face. As he was five years older than her their paths had only ever crossed as neighbours. They hadn’t hung out together or really known each other at school. He blew his hot chocolate to cool it.

Bella glanced around her, forming the mass of emotions into something tangible she could explain. ‘I think I’m doing okay, but I saw Evan last night at school.’ Nick’s eyebrows raised a fraction. ‘It was tough, but I got some answers. It’s been a couple of weeks now and I’ve got more used to going home to an empty house. Having all this to focus on has kept me busy most evenings so I don’t have time to mope. Is it a good idea to just keep busy, hoping the heartbreak will ease off?’

Nick shrugged. ‘It worked for me, though I don’t know if it’s necessarily a good idea. They say you have to deal with your emotions rather than repress them, but sometimes you have to push them down so they’re not so overwhelming you can’t actually cope.’ He suddenly looked up as if he’d been speaking to himself. ‘Sorry. That was all a bit maudlin, wasn’t it?’

‘Not at all. I know exactly what you mean, and I asked the question so …’ Bella searched for something more to say, finally settling on: ‘What do you think of the giving tree then?’

‘I think it’s a great idea. Which is funny really given I used to think asking for help was a sign of weakness.’

‘Did you? If there’s ever anything I can do …’ Bella gripped her drink tighter. His comment had surprised her, and she hated to think of Nick or Freddie struggling with anything. She resolved to keep more of an eye on Amias so she could take one worry off his list.

He smiled, watching the steam from his drink rise into the air and disappear. ‘It took a while after Paige left for me to ask for help with Freddie. But thanks. And if you ever need a curry, just ask.’

‘A curry?’ She laughed. Nick explained how he’d been batch cooking that morning, eager for them to have a better diet. ‘It still sounds delicious.’

‘I’ll drop one round.’