She dug into her YSL clutch and pulled out her vape pen. “Sure.”

She sucked the pink stick and blew out a cloud of white smoke, looking him over then the Mercedes. “You’re gonna fit in so well.”

From her monotone, Willow was sure that wasn’t a good thing. What the fuck had he gotten himself into? He opened the passenger side door for Eden, studying her legs as she got in. It had been days since he’d last seen her. Hopefully, the party wrapped early, and he could bring her back to his place. Maybe even get her to sleep over.

Inside the car, Eden held up her vape. “Do you mind?”

“Go ahead, gorgeous, just put your seatbelt on.”

She pulled the strap across her chest. “Yes, sir.”

“Keep saying that all you want, pretty girl.” He settled into his seat. “Where are we headed?”

“The eastern suburbs. Prahran.”

Noting the bougie address, Willow headed for the ring road. As he drove, he saw a flash of silver. “Do you have a flask?”

“Are you going to confiscate it, sir?”

“Depends. What’s in there?”

“Rum. You want some?”

“No chance. You go ahead though.”

As she drank, he noticed her hands were trembling. “Baby, are you okay?”

“I’m fine.”

She jammed the vape in her mouth and inhaled, covering them in apple-flavoured smoke. His nerves jolted. “Eden, is your family weird or something? Should I be bracing myself?”

She shook her head so fast it was a blonde blur. “I’m the weird one. Everyone else is normal. Or at least they’re gonna pretend to be.”

“Well, everyone’s family is weird underneath everything. And whatever happens, I’ll be there. We can just hang out together.”

“Promise?”

“I promise. Baby, are you sure nothing’s wrong?”

She chewed her lip, releasing it slowly. “There is, but I can’t get into it on the way there, if that’s okay. I’ll tell you later? If I get drunk enough?”

“Of course.”

They got off the highway and Eden directed him through wide, leafy streets. The houses got bigger, the gardens greener. How had a girl from this neck of the woods wound up in a one-bedroom apartment with mice? Was she estranged from her family? Or did they live in the only dodgy building around?

“Willow…” Eden’s voice was higher than usual. “My family is rich, okay? They’re snobby and English and they own racehorses.”

He gave her hand a reassuring pat. “That’s okay, I figured. Not about the racehorses, but everything else checks out.”

“I haven’t inherited anything. I don’t have any money.”

“Baby, I’ve seen your apartment. I know that.”

She didn’t smile. “It’s not gonna change the way you see me, is it?”