I shake my head but can feel myself blushing.

‘Aha, did you get your hands in his?’

I’d love to tell my sister what happened, but it would be the big news around all her mates before midday. I might as well take an ad out in the Argus.

‘Some things should stay strictly between a man and a woman,’ I say.

‘Ha! I knew it!’ she says, and as she takes me in her arms to waltz around the kitchen, I smile to myself. Last night was perfect. Joel was so different to what I expected: careful and sweet and . . . well, loving, I suppose. Right up until the last moments we were together.

As I dressed before I left, I was already rationalizing it as a one-off, even as a kind of favour, him sleeping with me in exchange for me saving his life.

Except when he walked me home, we stopped on the corner and he kissed me like he really meant it and whispered, How soon can I see you again?

The answer to Joel’s question is eleven hours.

I only wait that long because the thought of leaving the house and bumping into Tim is so horrifying. After all the trouble he went to organizing my party, I don’t want to hurt his feelings.

So I stare at his bungalow and wait until he and his mum leave, her pushing the upright shopping trolley that helps her walk, on the days she’s strong enough to venture outside without her wheelchair. The second they’re out of sight, I sprint to Curlews and the security gates open before I have to buzz. Joel has been watching out for me, too.

‘Dad’s in London for a meeting,’ he calls from the doorway.

I almost have another orgasm in anticipation. I definitely have another two before we finally lie down on the sofa in his den to quench our thirst with some beer.

‘You know, I still remember the very first time I saw you,’ Joel says. I’m nestled against him, careful not to lean on his left side so I don’t put pressure on his scar or the box underneath. ‘The day we started at the Comp.’

I twist my head up to look at his face. ‘I never thought you noticed me at all.’

‘Even though I followed you home most days?’

‘Yeah, because you live here so of course you’d come through the estate . . . hang on, are you saying you stalked me, Joel Greenaway?’ Saying his name makes me tingle.

‘No. And it wasn’t love at first sight or anything –’

The word ‘love’ sends a warm wave through me. He said it wasn’t love, Kerry, get a grip.

‘– but I was in the tutor group room with Ant, and you came in with Tim trailing behind you like a puppy. You caught my eye and I knew you were . . . different.’

‘Nerdy, you mean!’