We! So delighted at being included in the same pronoun as Vectra, Esther decided to overlook the fact that this comment had come at her friend’s expense, choosing instead to focus on the excitement of discovering that Vectra, too, was heading from lectures to the S.U. With every step bringing them closer, Esther allowed herself the excitement of imagining a coffee together. A straight-out invitation wouldn’t work, but maybe if she casually mentioned needing a drink . . .

As they stepped toward the glass doors of the S.U., Esther opened her mouth, ready to deploy her plan.

“Er, hi, sorry, excuse me, are you Esther?”

Alarmed at the sound of her name, Esther turned to find herself face-to-face with a young man with a closely shaved head and tortoiseshell glasses. When he raised his eyebrows above the round frames, he looked a little like an owl.

“Back off, stalker.” Vectra stepped between them. Half a head shorter than either of them, she held the same threat as a cocked hand grenade.

The boy backed off a couple of steps, arms up in surrender.

“Whoa there! I’m not trying to be creepy. My name’s Anthony—Tony—Grace’s boyfriend. From back home?” He shot Esther a pleading look across Vectra’s head. “I recognized you from one of the photos she posted.”

“Yes! She told me all about you.” Which was a bit of an exaggeration. “I thought you were down in Plymouth?”

“I am. I was.” He glanced at Vectra and lowered his hands. “I got the train up today to surprise her, only she’s not around. Her housemates said to try the Union.” He pointed through the doors. “Which I’m assuming is right there?”

“Why don’t you just call her?” Ed Gemmell said.

“Her phone’s been off for the last couple of days—that’s kind of why I’m here. I was worried.”

Just as Esther was about to say how sweet that was, Vectra gagged and said, “Or maybe take a hint?”

There was an awkward pause in which none of them really knew what to say.

“You could try up at the hospital. I’ll message my friend Susan—they’re on the same course.” Although lectures were over, and Esther had no idea whether Grace and Susan were rostered to do any of the other weird things on their course together. A dull nudge of guilt elbowed her in the stomach when Esther realized that in the unlikely event of some tenacious paramour looking for a phoneless Susan, Esther wouldn’t be able to say where to find her, either.

“Something like this happened in an episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” Ed Gemmell said, eyebrows knotted as they watched Tony stride away to find his lost girlfriend. “It didn’t end well.”

“My mum goes on about that show.” Vectra gave him a disdainful look. “You really need to get a life.”