‘Nice dress.’ Fay looked up at me intently as I turned round. ‘Champagne?’ In a funky little black and white waitress number that somehow clung in all the right places, her violet eyes ringed with iridescent silver, her ringlets perfectly sausage-like, she looked stunning. I, on the other hand, was simply stunned.

If Fay noticed that my face had fallen, it didn’t put her off. ‘That colour green really suits you. I’d love a dress like that.’

‘Thanks.’ I tried to collect my thoughts. ‘What are – I mean, I wasn’t expecting –’

‘I’m a Beautiful Bartender.’ She smiled proudly.

‘A what?’ I managed to suppress a deep sigh.

‘It’s great, isn’t it? It’s my other job when I’m not on TV. How funny they wanted me to work tonight, don’t you think? Oh look, there’s Charlie.’ Fay waved merrily at where he lounged against the bar. ‘I’ll be straight back,’ she promised me.

‘There’s no rush,’ I muttered as she floated off, ‘really.’

‘Old friend?’ asked Naz cheerfully, offering me a cigarette. ‘You don’t look too pleased to see her, I must say.’

‘Don’t I?’ I took a drag so deep the acrid smoke made me cough.

‘Nope.’

‘I just don’t quite understand why she keeps turning up everywhere.’

In the middle of the dance floor, Bel and Johnno were kissing, oblivious to their pogo-ing neighbours, oblivious to everyone around them. I wasn’t envious. I really wasn’t. Taking a slug of my cocktail, I was surprised to find my glass was empty. ‘Oh, I don’t know. I’m not sure if I’m just being paranoid.’

‘Why? Who is she?’

‘She was on the coach when it crashed, and now – well, she just keeps turning up all over the place.’

‘Like a bad penny.’

‘Something like that, yes.’

‘I know what’ll cheer you up.’ Naz grabbed my hand and pulled me towards the Ladies. ‘Come on.’

‘I’m fine, Naz, honestly.’

She was determined. ‘Oh, come on. Don’t be a spoilsport.’

‘I’m not. I’d rather have a drink, that’s all. You go. I’ll be at the bar.’

Fay sidled up to me as I waited to get served. My foot was throbbing painfully from bashing it outside Charlie’s office door.

‘I’m off now, Maggie. I was only booked for the first two hours. Got a party of my own to go to now.’

I felt inordinately relieved.

‘My new agency – their party.’ Fay said the first words with great pride.

‘Oh right. Well, have a good time.’ I resisted the temptation to slide my finger through the middle of her perfect ringlet.

‘I always do.’ Fay took both my hands in hers and squeezed them rather like a vicar might. ‘I’ll see you soon.’

‘Champagne, darling?’ Charlie’s hot breath caressed my naked back and I shuddered, watching Fay skip towards the stairs.