They both look up at Lewis as he makes his way back through the crowd.

Emma pinches Yvonne’s thigh under the table. ‘He’s fit, isn’t he? Look at that body. He told me he goes to the gym five times a week.’

‘Yeah and he probably wears his T-shirts a size too small on purpose.’

‘And for that, we thank him.’

‘You’re drunk.’

‘No, I’m not. I’ve only had two pints. Small ones,’ Emma holds up a thumb and forefinger.

‘A pint comes in one size.’

‘Urgh, you’re in such a mood at the moment.’

‘No, I’m not.’

‘Yes, you are. I’m trying to cheer you up. Maybe have a drink and loosen up a little.’

Yvonne sighs, careful not to invite Emma to probe her moodiness further. ‘Fine, I’ll get us a drink.’

The stickiness of spilt drinks pulls at Yvonne’s thin rubber soles as she makes her way to the bar. ‘Can I have a snakebite and black please,’ she drops the hot pound coin from her pocket into the bartender’s hand.

Lewis brushes against her arm. ‘Are you buying me a drink?’

She glances at him. ‘I’ve already ordered.’

He waves over the bartender. ‘Can I get a Pepsi, please?’ He pulls a note from a money clip. A money clip? He’s ridiculous.

‘Your girlfriend wants another pint.’ It comes out childish, snarky.

‘I think she’s had enough.’

Yvonne is pushed nearer to Lewis as a few drunken girls jostle close by. She feels her face flush as she steps back, away from him.

The drinks are set down and the cold liquid runs down the side of the plastic pint glass.

‘You look pissed off, Evelyn.’

This thing with her name, he’s doing it on purpose. As if she doesn’t already get it, that she was a mediocre shag, forgettable as a human being.

‘Emma says you want to go into public relations when you graduate?’

‘That’s the idea behind studying communications. Why are you discussing me with Emma?’ It makes her nervous, anxious, the thought that her name has passed between them.

‘You guys are best friends, right? She talks about you a lot. She talks about everything a lot.’

Is there some scorn in his voice? Some hint of boredom?

‘I’m really interested in advertising. Marketing. Branding.’

‘Hmm, good for you.’

He laughs. ‘It’s competitive though. Emma knows she doesn’t stand a chance of working in that kind of field. But then, she’s going on about training to be a teacher. As if. The kids would eat her alive.’

‘And you’d know, would you? Emma’s quite tough actually.’