But I suggested to Sophie that it was now a good opportunity to proceed with our plan and go off somewhere on our own, wasn’t it?

‘Ah,’ she said.

She had been thinking actually, she said, that she should go back and check on her mum, and we could hang out another time, was that all right?

‘Right?’ I said. ‘Right?’

‘Stop saying right. Is it all right?’

‘How it could it not be all right? How could any reasonable man insist you leave your miserable mum on her own, if that’s what she is, miserable and at home and on her own.’

The sun was fading out, and we were nearly finished. I only had to turn around and go. But I didn’t.

‘So it’s not OK,’ she said. ‘I understand you’re disappointed but I don’t think you have the right to be annoyed, given the circumstances.’

‘We’d made an arrangement. I was looking forward to it.’

‘So was I!’

‘Come on.’

‘You really are needy. I don’t make excuses.’

‘You certainly believe the press releases you write for yourself.’

‘Oh, fuck you.’

‘It’s just inconsiderate and insensitive. To puff yourself up with virtuousness by evoking your sad mother to me.’

‘Oh, Paul, I’m sorry about your mum, but I just won’t do emotional blackmail.’

We might have come back from the brink if I’d walked away then. It would probably have been the end but we might have remained friends.

‘I’m sorry,’ I said. ‘I just thought we were going to take care of each other today.’

Her expression softened and she’d stepped up close to me before something occurred to her. ‘Why would you need taking care of? What’s your disappointment here?’

‘There’s no disappointment. I just mean—’

‘What do you mean?’

‘Nothing.’

‘What was I to you? Just a way of making her jealous? Pissing off my dad?’

‘If you want? Would that let you off the hook? Yes, then, if that’s what you want: you were nothing to me. I used you to annoy Emily, to get at your dad. I was laughing at you all the way. That’s the kind of man I am. Just a clever schemer.’

‘Clever?’ she said. ‘What have you got away with?’

*

I thought I would try to leave with one last display of grace.

Back inside, Sophie was making her own farewells to everyone. I hung back so I’d be the last person she’d walk past, and I leaned against the wall, watching the others watch me. Sophie hugged Emily awkwardly, then Andrew swept her up in his arms and spoke into her ear.

She nodded. She shook her head. They both turned to look at me.

‘I’m sorry,’ I said, as she walked past me.

‘Yeah, me too,’ she said, and she patted me on the arm and left.

Andrew walked over to me.