‘My first hangover,’ she told herself, prodding around her throat and wondering how long it would last. Her instinct was to google hangover cures, but her phone wasn’t on charge and she spun around frantically when she realised it didn’t appear to be anywhere. ‘Christ …’

Georgia flicked off her bedsheet, looked on the floor, behind the bedside table.

Where did I see it last?

The skirt and top she’d worn to the party didn’t have pockets big enough for her phone, so she must have had it in her jacket.

But it was hot at the party. Did I take the jacket off? I can’t remember wearing it on the way home. Dad will crack up if I’ve lost another phone …

Georgia needed to pee, but finding her phone felt more urgent. She shot downstairs and saw her black denim jacket on the floor below the coat rack. She was chuffed as she squatted down and felt the phone and her door keys in the pocket. The battery was down to eight per cent, but that wasn’t a biggie.

‘Good morning,’ John said brightly. ‘Beautiful day out there, isn’t it?’

‘Dad,’ Georgia croaked, trying to fake some enthusiasm as she turned round and saw him standing in the kitchen, with his hands holding the top of the door frame. ‘I thought you’d have gone to work already.’

‘It’s only eight,’ John said. ‘So, you didn’t sleep over in the end?’

‘Maya’s got a house full of siblings,’ Georgia said. ‘I got in before eleven. You were snoring, so I didn’t wake you up.’

‘Good time?’

‘Sure,’ Georgia said, trying to disguise a gruff voice. ‘We dragged out a board game. Sang along to a couple of lame Disney movies …’

‘Very wholesome,’ John said. ‘I’m making breakfast. Liver and bacon, would you like some?’

Georgia retched at the thought of liver. ‘I’m gonna shower,’ she choked.

‘Or I can cook eggs with runny yolks, or fry up some squid in olive oil with extra tentacles …’

Georgia froze at the bottom of the stairs. He knew …

John smiled. ‘Or maybe you’d prefer the Alka-Seltzer and paracetamol I’ve put out on the kitchen cabinet.’

‘So, I’m busted,’ Georgia said warily.

‘You’d have woken a hibernating bear with that retching in the bathroom,’ John said, smirking. ‘At least you made it to the bathroom. The first time Sophie came home drunk, she hurled in the umbrella stand in the hallway.’

‘Really?’ Georgia said, relieved that her dad was seeing the funny side, but not daring to push her luck.

‘I turned you onto your front,’ John said. ‘You were on your back, but that’s dangerous if you vomit in your sleep.’

‘I don’t remember,’ Georgia said, touched.

‘You were blotto,’ John said. ‘But you did tell me I was the best daddy in the world at one point.’