But all Bella could say was, ‘Oh, just fuck off, you pompous twat.’

‘Fine. I will.’ Andy sounded angry as he hung up.

Bollocks. Bella hadn’t meant to lose it like that, but she had been reminded all of a sudden of similar evenings when she had been waiting around for hours for Ben, while he cavorted with models and, on one particularly memorable occasion, ballerinas. It was shortly after that that she had found him in bed with Poppy; it wasn’t surprising she was insecure.

But Skinny fucking Alison?

Just as she was debating whether or not to call him back and apologize, her phone rang again.

‘Hey, Pops.’

‘Belles! How’s it going? You OK? You don’t sound your usual self.’

Bella hadn’t meant to launch into her tale of woe immediately, but she couldn’t help herself. ‘Andy’s gone out for a drink with Skinny fucking Alison. He hasn’t been home in time for dinner a single night this week … I don’t understand why he’d ever want to see her again …’ She stopped, and took a deep breath to stem the incipient flood of tears.

‘Well, it can hardly be because he wants to get in her knickers, can it? Come on, Belles, he must have told you why?’

‘Well, he came up with some crap about how she sounded really desperate to talk to somebody about some fucking case she’s working on … but why couldn’t she talk to her bloody sugar daddy about it? She’s living with him, and he’s a hot-shot fucking lawyer.’

‘I’m sure that if Andy thought it was necessary to talk to her, then it was,’ said Poppy patiently. She was used to Bella’s outbursts of insecurity. In fact, she felt partly to blame – Bella walking in on her shagging Ben had probably scarred her for life.

‘I’m getting too fat, that’s why he doesn’t want to spend time with me any more.’ Bella morosely squeezed the flesh around her middle and took another huge swig of red wine. She had been getting rather too used to drinking on her own. ‘Not a fucking ounce of flesh on Alison, is there? Evil cow has far too much self-control for that.’

‘Belles, listen to yourself. You’re not fat, and you’re being ridiculous.’ How would you know? You haven’t seen me for months, thought Bella mutinously. ‘I’ve never known a happier couple than you and Andy, and I’m sure he’s just being nice. Skinny’s not exactly his favourite person, remember?’

‘Yeah, but he wanted to marry her, and he certainly doesn’t want to marry me.’

‘Oh, for Christ’s sake, you know why he’s wary of marriage. It’s because of her. Belles, you’re being ridiculous …’

‘You’ve already said that …’

‘I think you know it too. Come on, lovey, get a grip.’

After a long pause, Bella pulled herself together. She was really starting to annoy herself.

‘Sorry, Pops. Can we start again? What are you up to? Any gossip? Everyone’s still absolutely raving about PTM here …’