‘Stop moping around, it’s exhausting just watching you,’ Josie snapped at Evie, who was operating in slow motion.

‘Sorry. Late night.’

‘Partying with the boys?’ asked Steven from where he was busily restocking the straws—which had not yet been removed despite Evie’s tirade against the harmful consequences of single-use plastic.

When Evie explained what had happened with her dad, Josie was mortified and apologised profusely. She and Steven had insisted Evie go home, saying they’d be fine to cover for her. Evie told them she’d prefer to be at work, keeping busy.

A group of older ladies, dubbed the Matinee-ers by Evie and Josie, swarmed in. As usual, they were painstakingly particular about their choice of ice cream and tea. Usually Evie found it endearing, but today it was just excruciating. Steven kindly stepped in to take their orders, then gave her a detailed list of the black teas, Earl Greys and Oolongs, with their specific grades of strength, types of milk and so on.

‘What are they seeing today?’ Evie asked after the women left with their ice creams and teas.

‘That new Weinstein film, I think. All the old biddies are mad for any film he produces,’ Steven replied.

‘Seriously?’ Evie rolled her eyes. ‘Weinstein’s disgusting.’

‘Jeez Evie, somebody’s got a bee in their bonnet today,’ Josie said. ‘Are you sure you don’t want to head home?’

‘I’m telling you, he is not a good guy. Even Trump denounced him in the end,’ said Evie sourly.

‘Who?’

‘Donald Trump!’

‘The American Apprentice host?’ Josie asked. ‘Who cares about him?’

Oh, Jesus Christ! thought Evie. There was so much that hadn’t happened yet, and Evie didn’t know how long she would last without a major slip-up. Sighing, she wondered for the umpteenth time whether, despite things happening differently for her over the next few months or years, she would end up exactly where she was before, in exactly the same messed-up universe.

‘Excuse me, can I get a Combo Meal with a Pepsi?’ A voice interrupted her train of thought.

Evie looked up, stunned. There, in front of her, was on-again, off-again, Ever-Ready Freddy. Ten years younger, he was just as good looking, only this time he had his hand around the waist of a petite blonde woman. Is this really happening now? she groaned to herself.

‘Sorry, what was that?’ Evie asked distractedly.

He repeated his order, barely making eye contact as he pulled his date in tight and kissed her on the forehead. Signature Freddy move, thought Evie, still thoroughly appalled by the idea that if things did go full circle for her, she could be back to booty calls with him.

She placed a paper cup on the drink machine and pressed the Pepsi button.

‘No way am I letting myself fall for him again,’ she muttered under her breath.

‘Excuse me?’ Freddy said.