He gives a slow glance over, no doubt checking the expression on my face to see the level of serious that I’m interrupting him with and attempting to read the situation.

He pauses his game.

‘Have you been crying?’ He seems genuinely concerned.

‘No! I just did a face mask.’

‘Oh right,’ he nods with relief. I see his fingers twitch towards the controls but he thinks better of it and rubs his hands together and puts the controller down instead. ‘Shoot.’

‘Just been chatting to Vicky and we think we should be with Mike next Thursday. For Pia’s birthday, for Valentine’s.’

‘Oh,’ he says, taken aback. ‘But we have plans. I said I’d organized something.’

‘Argh,’ I say, having forgotten he’d told me he’d planned a surprise a few weeks ago. ‘We can change them though, right?’

‘Sure,’ he shrugs.

‘It’s only a day,’ I say, finding myself repeating the words I used to utter myself in the past when the day turned out to be less than romantic or special.

‘And what’ll I do instead?’ It’s a genuine question but instantly fills me with a guilt I resent him for.

‘You’re pretty good at doing this,’ I offer, gesturing towards his favourite spot in the house.

‘Thanks, babe,’ he exhales, shuffling in his seat. ‘The sofa doesn’t give quite as much back. If you know what I mean.’

‘You can come with us?’ I offer, ignoring his comment. ‘I think it’ll be at Vic’s, so Nick will be there too.’

‘Hmm.’

‘What?’ I frown, wondering when he’s gone off the people I love most in the world.

‘I’m just wondering how long this is going to go on for,’ he asks, looking at his hands. ‘You pushing me away. We’ve had hardly any time together, just us.’

‘I’m being a mate.’

‘You’re going to be my wife,’ his eyes flick up to meet mine just as my eyebrows shoot up in surprise.

‘And hopefully as my husband you’ll be more concerned with my mental health than getting your leg over.’

‘I’m not talking about sex, Za, and I am so invested in you and your health, you know that. This is about Mike, though. Not you,’ Liam rolls his eyes. ‘You’re still here, and I’m still here.’

‘Well, fucking hurray for that,’ I grumble, turning on my heels and heading back up the stairs.

‘So should I cancel everything then?’ he calls behind me with a sigh.

I don’t even bother replying, just stomp my feet a little louder and harder on each step.

When I pick up my phone in my bedroom there’s a voicemail from Vicky to say Mike’s up for a night in with us, as long as Liam and Nick don’t mind.