There's pizza, then more cider, because we've emerged from our hangovers and discovered a new freedom and joy in the seven of us together, for the whole day, without needing to open the bookstore. There's a freshness in the air, loosened by a few drinks and the unburdening of secrets about Matt, and the emotions of the day.

After the pizza, Will, who was lying on the sofa forlornly, starts bursting forth with more positivity about Matt's memoir, and what he's read. He laments but also exclaims on the talents of Matt as a writer, and a storyteller.

'I've decided,' Will says firmly. 'We have to get this memoir published. For Matt.'

I notice Ed is silent, with only a conflicted expression across his freckled face.

We're watching another Harry Potter movie, but Ed mumbles something and crosses the hall, back to his flat. Silently, I follow him. I find him sitting on the sofa, amongst Sylvie's plants, with moonlight spilling through the bay window.

I make tea.

'If we publish that book...' Ed murmurs, as I place a mug in his hands and then sit beside him.

'Your parents?'

'Mmm,' Ed says. 'My parents. They never understood Matt.'

'That must have been horrible for Matt,' I say.

'Yeah,' Ed says, and the silence afterwards is deafening, as the two of us imagine the hardships that Matt must have faced.

'You realise,' Ed says. 'My parents own these flats. My parents own this bookshop, and café, and bar. They own everything we have right now, and every single bit of profit we make at the moment goes towards paying them back. I'm hundreds of thousands of pounds in debt to my parents, Jane.'

I swallow.

'If they wanted,' Ed says slowly. 'They could take everything away.'

'Would they do that, if Matt's memoir was published?' I ask.

'When Matt was in secondary school... he went to an all girls boarding school, and he was self-harming, a lot. The school sent him to a counsellor, and the counsellor was able to help him, and explain everything about what it means to be transgender, and the options available to him. The school was actually really supportive. And my father sued the school. And my father won.'

I inhale.

'My father's a politician,' Ed explains. 'And he's a very far-right leaning Tory, if that gives you any indication. So I think, if Matt's memoir was ever published... well, I wouldn't put it past my father to take it out on me. His reputation means everything to him.'

'So you don't want Matt's memoir published?' I ask.

Ed winces. 'If Matt wanted it published, then I want to respect his wishes. But I'm terrified of what might happen.' He takes a sip of tea, then says, 'Is that selfish?'

'No, Ed,' I say hastily, and then I look around at the flat. 'This bookshop, the café, the bar. You've worked so hard on this. I don't blame you for wanting to protect it.'

'But he was my brother,' Ed says.

I have no idea what to say to Ed, so we drink our tea in an uncomfortable silence, mulling over the conflict.

We're interrupted by the flat door swinging open, and I look up to see Harper carrying a box of stuff into the flat, with Charlotte on his heels.

'Helping Charlotte move,' Harper says gruffly, eying Ed and me on the sofa. 'You guys didn't like the film?'

I feel a twinge of guilt at Harper discovering me here, sitting with Ed. I stand up.

'Needs more dragons,' Ed says dryly, in response to Harper's question.

I drop my cup in the sink. 'Is there anything I left in there?' I call out, as Harper and Charlotte go down the hall, to Charlotte's new bedroom.

I follow them, and stand in the doorway, taking in the room. I remember moving in here, having no idea who these people were that I was about to live with. Having no idea of the stories. Having no idea of the history, under this roof.

Harper drops the box at the end of the bed. Charlotte is standing by the window. I linger in the doorway.

'Matt was always so happy,' Charlotte says. 'Because we were always partying, together. He was always so happy. But then there were days when he wouldn't leave this room. He wouldn't get out of bed. We just left him alone. We didn't know what to do. We should have done something.'

'That's what I thought, about my mother,' I say, and both Charlotte and Harper turn to look at me. 'I thought, I should have done something. I should have known. I should have said something. But it was easier to hate her for ignoring me than it was to ever allow myself to think that she wasn't well. I thought there was no way my mum would ever...'

I feel my throat constricting, and I choke. Harper crosses the room in two steps and wraps his arms around me, and I sink into the softness of his hoodie, overwhelmed by the comfort. I didn't realise how much I craved his affection.

'I'm going to go get those last few portraits off the wall,' Charlotte says. I'm still wrapped in Harper's embrace, but I hear her leave, and call out to Ed while she does. The door closes behind the both of them, as they leave the flat. Harper holds me the whole time.

'I'm so sorry, Jane,' Harper murmurs.

I pull away and look up into his face. He places his hand on my cheek, momentarily, before apparently deciding against it and taking his hand away. He takes a step back.

'I'm sorry for everything,' he repeats. 'I was wrestling with my own emotions. I just want you to know that I'm sorry for treating you how I did, and I'm sorry that I did what I did last night. With Kitty, in front of you. I don't know why I did it. I think I was trying to make you jealous.'

I breathe in. 'Harper.'

'I'd understand if you don't want anything to do with me, Jane,' he says. 'I know what it looks like. I kissed Charlotte, I kissed you, and I kissed Kitty. But you're the one I can't stop thinking about. I'm a hypocrite, I know. I understand if you don't want this anymore. I understand if you want Ed.' His voice trembles.

'Harper, I don't want Ed,' I say.

• Author's Note •

Quick, vote! And then go on!