The two newcomers ate as if they hadn’t seen food for days, then washed the whole lot down with several beers while Alex, Bruno, Carina and Marie watched them. Simon was the only one who showed no interest at all; he seemed to be in a world of his own, distractedly strumming away.

When the food was gone, Joe belched loudly. ‘Time for dessert,’ he said, digging out the bag of weed again, along with cigarette papers and a lighter. He got Alex to hold the torch while he used the lid of one of the foil boxes as a base. His long, slender fingers moved quickly and with practised ease. He rolled three joints as the excitement grew. He lit the first, took a drag, then ceremoniously handed it over to Carina.

‘Have you smoked weed before?’

She shook her head.

‘Take a deep drag and hold it for as long as you can. When you’re satisfied, pass it on to your friend.’ He nodded in Marie’s direction before lighting the second joint. Once again, he took a long drag, then edged closer to Carina as they both held the smoke in their lungs.

Carina coughed, and giggled in a way Marie didn’t like at all.

‘My turn,’ Alex said, holding out his hand. Instead of passing on the joint, Joe took another long drag and nudged Carina gently with his elbow. ‘He’s keen – is he always like that?’

Carina giggled again. Marie could see how annoyed Alex was. Carina turned her back on him and gave the joint to Marie, who tried her usual fake drag. She held the smoke in her mouth for a few seconds before exhaling. The weed tasted both sweet and bitter at the same time – nicer than tobacco. She tried again, inhaling more deeply this time and earning an appreciative nod from Joe. There was something about him, something about his eyes. He was clearly smart, maybe even on her level, which would be a nice change. The fact that he’d referred to Alex as the alpha male was evidence of both humour and intelligence. Plus, he was older, more mature. But there was something else too, something both attractive and slightly . . . unpleasant.

‘Come on!’ Alex groaned. ‘Pass it over!’

‘There you go – relax!’

Alex snatched the joint, inhaled much too deeply and immediately started coughing violently. Joe laughed and slapped him on the back a few times. Marie tried again, and this time a soft, warm feeling spread slowly through her entire body, washing away any trace of irritation or tension. She closed her eyes, took another drag.

Joe lit the third joint and gave it to Tanya. ‘You can share with our troubadour, sis. Guitarists are your thing.’

‘Fuck off,’ she snapped, but went over to join Simon.