Whatever they were, Bonnie doubted they were anything as important as Iona’s. When her friend whispered that she had something to say, Bonnie’s tummy did a funny little dance.

Since the God-awful night at the sleep-out when her brother’s antics meant Iona went off with Tess, Bonnie hadn’t felt right. Every time anyone spoke to her she’d wanted to scream at them to shut up. Her insides had felt like they were knotted into lumps of burning iron. It was the exact same way she used to feel as a child, right after Danny was born. Like she’d do anything to get the imposter out of the way.

But it was her that Iona wanted to tell her secret to, not Tess. And that was probably because Tess was only fifteen and she’d always been so sickly sweet. Iona must have found that out for herself by now.

‘Let’s go to the woods,’ Bonnie suggested. It was already a scorchingly hot morning and her shoulders were burnt from the day before. She had to wear a T-shirt to cover them up, which meant she wouldn’t be able to put her bikini on. She was by far the palest member of the family and she hated that her skin didn’t turn the nice bronze colour Stella’s did.

She and Iona linked arms as they walked around the back of the house. Their conversation skimmed over Take That and how much they loved Robbie, and who they liked most in Beverly Hills, 90210. When they were deep in the woods, Iona pulled Bonnie down so they were sitting by a tree. For a moment they were silent and Bonnie knew they were building up to something big. She could feel the anticipation fizzing inside her that at last she was being told a secret she would forever keep to herself.

‘So,’ Iona said, chewing the corner of her lip as she grinned. ‘This is a little bit naughty.’

‘Go on,’ Bonnie said. She laughed out loud, stopping quickly when she feared it sounded childish.

‘I’m kind of seeing someone.’

‘Oh?’ Bonnie felt her heart dip. She hadn’t been expecting this.

‘And you mustn’t tell a soul.’

‘No. Of course I won’t.’ She wouldn’t, but already the secret felt tainted. Did this mean Iona would be spending less time with her? She would have to ensure that didn’t happen. ‘Who is it?’

‘Oh.’ Iona looked away. ‘I can’t tell you that.’

‘Why not?’ Bonnie snapped.

Iona looked at her out of the corner of her eye. ‘I just can’t,’ she said. There was the glimmer of a smile on her lips and Bonnie couldn’t help but stare at it.

‘So why tell me anything if you can’t tell me who it is?’