His lip twitches and he reaches down to pet the dog, who immediately acts as if Laurie is a member of his long-lost family. “They all sound quite anarchic choices, Mags.”

I sigh. “That is all that is left to me now that we have Endof.”

“I could have sworn you just said we.”

“I did. This was your idea, so you’re going to help me.” I consider my upcoming schedule. “I have a trial in Nottingham starting soon. You may have Endof for the duration.”

“I may have him? You make it sound like I’m begging you for his company.”

I nod in a regal fashion. “You were. You were just doing it very quietly.”

“One might even say silently.”

“Ah, Laurie, after the way our bodies came together, our minds are as in tune as a couple of violins.”

There’s a stunned silence. I can’t help the uptick of my lips, and he shoves me. “Fuck you. You had me going there. A couple of violins? Mags, I’m beginning to think it’s a good job you’re so vehemently single if that’s your idea of romantic talk.”

“I have no idea what romantic talk is,” I say, opening the door of my car and letting Endof into the back seat. He immediately shakes himself violently sending hair and canine saliva all over the leather seats. I give a sigh of resignation and return to the conversation. “It’s not exactly something that has happened to me in my life.”

Laurie climbs into the passenger seat. “Nor me.”

I shoot him a glance. “Not even with the creators of your mixtapes?”

He looks bewildered for a second and then laughs. “Not really, seeing as the playlist consisted of songs like ‘I Wanna Sex You Up’ and ‘Fuck Forever’.”

I start the car and join the London weekend traffic.

“This is a nice car,” Laurie says, patting the leather seat.

“I don’t use it much. I prefer to walk or take the Tube.”

“You get on the Tube? You?”

“Why are you saying that in such a tone of disbelief?”

“Because you don’t look like you’d do public transport. It’s like Charles the First going to a hatmaker.”

“Your analogies are completely ridiculous.”

We both jump as Endof thrusts his head between us, panting happily.

“Aww, lickle baby,” Laurie croons. “He wants to be next to his daddy.”

“What an abhorrent selection of words,” I say in disgust.

Laurie pets the dog. “We need to get him a harness.”

“I have so many questions now,” I murmur.

He chuckles. “He needs a harness, a lead, food bowls, and something to secure him in the car so he can’t get hurt. He’ll also need a check-up and a health certificate.”

“Why? Is he taking a job with the government?”

“You need it if you’re travelling with him now that we’re not in Europe.”