If I’d checked my watch once today, I must have checked it a hundred times. My stomach was all in knots, and I couldn’t concentrate on writing or any other task, for that matter. Bloody Felix and Poppy. I knew this was a terrible idea.

Later that evening, when Jack Coulsdon-Hart walked through my front door behind my brother, I took one look at his exhausted face and saw there was a whole story written there, one I didn’t and might possibly never know. But what I did know was that he needed something more right now than just another soulless hotel room.

Felix dropped down a couple of the bags he’d been carrying and leant over, giving me a peck on the cheek, whispering a ‘thanks’ as he did so. Behind him, the sizeable bulk of man that was Jack filled the doorway, looking hesitant to come in.

‘Come in, come in!’ I tried to cover my own nervousness and insecurities with a bright cheery smile and tone. Jack set his suitcase down as I closed the door behind them and then, as I turned back, my gaze caught his and I immediately knew that he saw straight through me. I did my best to keep the smile in place anyway. Fake it till you make it, I told myself, or something like that.

‘How was the flight?’

‘Yeah, good. Thanks. Kind of long.’

‘Quite. Have you eaten?’ I asked, leading them both through into the kitchen.

‘Just something on the plane earlier, but that’s fine, I’m not really hungry. My body clock is all out of whack at the moment.’

‘That’s OK,’ I said. ‘I’ve done a lasagne, but we can have that tomorrow if that’s all right with you. Oh! I suppose I should have asked whether you were vegetarian or anything?’

‘No,’ he replied, laughing. ‘Definitely still a carnivore I’m afraid, much to the chagrin of my ex-wife.’

I waited in case he planned to elaborate, but it soon appeared that this was the entirety of the sentence.

‘You really didn’t have to cook anything for me anyway,’ he said.

‘No, it’s fine. Just don’t get used to it.’ I gave a quick laugh. ‘This is purely a one-off. The rest of the time, you’re on your own, although feel free to use anything you need in the kitchen. I’ve got a shop arriving in the morning so everything should be replenished by then, but if there’s anything particular you’d like me to get in then I can do that, so just let me know.’

He shifted his weight, momentarily looking pained. ‘I really didn’t mean for you to go to all this trouble. I promise it will only be for short time. I’m already looking for places to rent.’

‘I know. But that’s no reason not to be comfortable now and it’s really no trouble. I know you’d certainly do the same for Felix if he was in the same position.’

Felix was nodding in agreement with his back to us as he’d just discovered the cheese straws I’d baked early that afternoon. He pulled a couple out and handed them to Jack. ‘Here, try these, they’re delicious!’