‘Looks like you’re up for more than one drink?’ he indicates the bottles under her arms. ‘Thought we were going for dinner?’

‘Yes. But there’s no rush, is there?’ And why should there be? This is her pub; she’s not going to run from it because he happens to be here. So she drinks and joins in with the jokes and makes extra effort to enjoy every single anecdote. Jaden is unimpressed and hints several times about being hungry. Why does he always need it to be the two of them? They’ve already spent two evenings together this week. What’s wrong with wanting to spend time with other people as well?

‘I’m going home,’ he says in her ear. ‘You can call me in the morning if you’re up for doing something.’

‘Oh don’t be like that.’

Tomorrow morning she will call him and apologise and he’ll moan about always having to fit around her whims and plans. Though for now, he kisses her on the cheek and leaves.

The wine warms her but her bare arms goose bump and Hannah, who is very drunk, suggests they move inside now the crowd has thinned out. Lewis is still there, at the bar with his brother, both of their glasses empty.

‘Actually, I think I’ve had enough,’ Yvonne tells the group. ‘I’m going to head off too.’ They boo her as she slips away.

She’s halfway up the road, hoping she won’t bump into Jaden, when she notices Lewis. He walks alongside her for a few metres before she stops and faces him. ‘What are you doing?’

‘I’ve been watching you tip back glass after glass all evening.’

‘So?’

‘So, I’m not going to leave you to stumble home on your own, am I?’

‘You’ve got so much front.’

He laughs, ‘I also didn’t see you eat anything. Maybe you should get some food, soak up some of that alcohol?’

‘My God. You’re seriously asking me to have dinner with you?’

‘Actually, I was only offering like a bag of chips or something, but if you want a proper dinner—’

She walks on, shaking her head. He’s the same, he’s exactly the same. It’s like stepping back in time.

‘I’m kidding,’ he calls. ‘Wait.’

She turns to face him. ‘How can you still be this arrogant?’

‘Me? I think you mean confident. That’s the word you were looking for?’

‘No,’ she squeaks, desperate not to laugh, ‘it’s not.’

She casts a look back at The Endurance and wonders how many times they’ve both been in there drinking and not seen each other.

‘You look good, Yvie.’

She should thank him but knows that would only encourage him.

‘Are you really going home now?’ he asks, this time his voice is free of bravado.