‘Is it?’ Ian looked up, his eyes finally meeting hers. ‘Is it Leila’s dream? Or is it the dream you told her about, that she wanted to make a reality.’

Minnie shook her head.

‘You know what she’s like, she’s like a dog shaking a rat. She won’t let it go, she won’t stop attacking with everything she’s got, until you say it’s dead. You should put it out of its misery and let her move on.’

‘The business isn’t dying,’ Minnie started biting her thumbnail, ‘and it’s not a rat. We’ve just had a few cash-flow issues.’

‘That’s what she tells you,’ Ian said, staring at her with piercing, unblinking eyes.

Minnie stood up, shaking her head.

‘She loves it as much as I do.’

‘She loves you,’ said Ian.

They stayed in silence for a moment. Ian rubbed both hands across his scalp. ‘You know she got offered a job at a fashion start-up last week. Did she tell you?’

‘No,’ said Minnie. She suddenly felt unsteady on her feet, as though Ian had pulled a rug out from under her. Why wouldn’t Leila tell her something like that? They told each other everything.

‘You know she’d love doing something like that. She won’t even consider it as long as you need her.’ Ian hung his head. ‘I’m not saying this to be a shit-stirrer, Min, it’s just I love her and … it’s like, you know when Sonic the Hedgehog is in Invincibility Mode and he’s in this bubble running super-fast, and the music goes all uptempo and there’s nothing he can’t do, he’s just bashing everything straight out the park?’

‘Yes,’ Minnie said slowly, unsure where this analogy was going.

‘Leila’s born to live in Invincibility Mode, that’s what she’s like, it’s where she thrives – dashing about in a little bubble with the music racing, totally nailing everything. Right now, it’s like she’s been hit by a Badnik and lost all her rings – all her energy’s gone.’ Ian sighed then spoke more slowly, ‘I want to be her Invincibility bubble. I want to shield her, let her live in that mode for the rest of her life if I can.’ Minnie felt a tear roll down her cheek. ‘That probably sounds like total bollocks,’ said Ian, thrusting his hands deep into his pockets.

‘No,’ said Minnie, sniffing back a tear, ‘I think that’s one of the most romantic things I’ve ever heard. You should say that about the Invincibility Mode when you propose.’