‘MEN AND WOMEN CAN HAVE A TRULY PLATONIC FRIENDSHIP’

mike, 47, says, The first time that Jackie and Claire met, watching my best friend and the woman I loved getting on so well felt like one of life’s perfect moments. I kept thinking, ‘These are the two people I like most in the world and they like each other, too.’

Later, I told Jackie that I could see myself spending the rest of my life with Claire. ‘Tell her that,’ she urged me. ‘If she’s the one, don’t hold back.’ on Jackie’s advice, I told Claire just how I felt and it turned out to be the best thing I ever did.

Perhaps it was naive of me never to consider that my friendship with Jackie could be an issue for Claire. But it was unthinkable to me that Jackie could ever be anything other than my dearest friend. It has been suggested in the past that we at least try to turn our friendship into a relationship. But I always knew that what we had was so precious, I couldn’t possibly gamble with it.

I wiped away a fair few of her tears when we were younger, when other men let her down. It made me want to be a more considerate man.

apart from my marriage and my family, my relationship with Jackie has been my most enduring. She anchors me and I think we are proof that a man and a woman can have a truly platonic friendship.

I love two women – one is my wife, the other my best friend – and that truly is a wonderful thing.

✱ Mike Gayle’s Novel,

The Man I Think I Know,

is out now (£14.99, Hodder & Stoughton).