‘Stop arguing with me, Hayley,’ he snaps, then changes the subject. ‘Tell me how Miles, the super-wuss, is. Has he made any more boring vids lately?’

I fold my arms. ‘You asked me not to diss you. I’m asking you not to diss Miles.’

‘Oh, I see. Got a thing about him, have you?’

My face feels hot. I know I am blushing. ‘Of course not. No.’

Back at Wellbeck House, head woozy and mouth dry after drinking too much red wine, I step into the kitchen to make myself a hot chocolate and drink some water before I collapse into bed ridiculously early in an attempt to sober up. I couldn’t face going back to Jono’s tonight.

You are sitting at the kitchen table, nose in a book. ‘Hi, Miles,’ I say trying not to slur my words as I walk towards the kettle. Trying not to notice your dreamboat looks, your soft melting eyes. Your strong cheekbones that I have watched Saffron stroke, when she was canoodling with you on the sofa and didn’t know I was walking past the window. She loves you so much and I don’t blame her. If I had you, I would treasure you too.

‘What are you reading?’ I ask.

‘The Philosophy of Moral Attitude,’ you reply, looking up. Hmm, I think to myself, that’s what Jono needs to read. His moral attitude is seriously weird. Drink, drugs, and criticism. Never a nice word to say about anybody or anything. He doesn’t even like puppies and kittens.

You smile at me. ‘Hayley, you’re just the person I wanted to see. I’ve got a present for you.’

You stand up and walk across the kitchen, towards the dresser. You pick up a gift bag and hand it to me.

‘Thank you.’ I beam. ‘What have I done to deserve this?’

Your smile widens. ‘Well, I just saw it and thought you would like it.’

You saw something, thought I would like it and bought it for me. My stomach rotates with pleasure.

I open the bag and pull out my gift. A toy koala. Soft and fluffy and grey with a black leather nose.

‘You said you had one as a comfort toy when you were a child. I couldn’t resist it when I saw it. I thought you could keep it on your bed and it would make you feel at home.’

I want to pull you towards me and hold you and kiss you. But you are out of bounds.

‘Thank you so much, Miles. That is so kind of you – I love it.’