‘Not really the comics, but I love the movies. Marvel or DC Comics. It’s all good.’

‘You don’t think it’s just for kids, though?’

Sam shook his head. ‘I don’t think anyone has a right to pigeonhole anyone’s hobbies or interests. They’re what makes us unique, whatever age we develop them and however long we continue them. Don’t you think so, Jemma?’

‘Hey, you’re looking at the woman who plays with bears for a living,’ I said, ‘although I dumped the guy who introduced me to his parents as that.’ I looked at Drew. ‘You really had no idea he didn’t like comic books and superheroes?’

‘Nope. Not a clue. We watched loads of films together. On my birthday, his gifts included a Captain America T-shirt and a set of Marvel Top Trumps, which he insisted we play strip Top Trumps with. I thought he was into it. Not a geek like me, but certainly a fan. Apparently not. Why didn’t he just say something? I wouldn’t have stopped liking it but I wouldn’t have talked about it around him.’

Sam put his empty bottle of lager down on the coffee table. ‘There’s nothing you said or did just before it ended that could have been a step too far for him? Like booking a weekend away at a convention and insisting you both attend in lycra Spidey outfits?’

Drew laughed. ‘Nothing like that but, for the record, this body could so pull off a lycra Spidey outfit.’

It was good to see him laughing again and, he was right, he’d look amazing in lycra. He had one seriously fit body. Scott had often commented on how weedy and inferior he felt next to Drew.

‘Oh shit!’ Drew exclaimed. ‘I don’t believe it. There was something like that.’

‘What?’ Sam and I asked together.

Drew put his hand to his mouth. ‘Oh my God! But he seemed really into the idea. Plus, it was only a suggestion. I didn’t even have an outfit.’

‘WHAT?’ we cried again.

He bit his lip. ‘It’s a bit embarrassing but, sod it, I’ve had enough vodka to not care. Where is my vodka, by the way?’

‘Don’t get mad but I got Sam to hide it. Trying to save you from the hangover from hell.’

He shrugged. ‘You may be too late for that. So I asked Luukas if he’d dress up as Thor for me. He had blond hair and muscles and…’ He paused and looked at Sam. ‘Oh my God! You’re him. I mean you look like him. Like Chris Hemsworth. You’ve got it all! Flash Gordon, Indiana Jones and Thor all wrapped into one.’