‘Well, they’re together, right?’ asks Magda. ‘She was with Duke, she cheated on Duke, you started to be photographed in a fake romance with Duke so everyone would lay off her a bit …’

‘Yes.’ Evie nods. ‘All of that is true. But in terms of Daphne and Brad still being together, I don’t know. Duke hasn’t ever told me what happened the night he got photographed hugging her, but something did. Set has been ice cold since …’

Magda stops to look in a shop window displaying two winter outfits on headless mannequins. ‘I like that jumper,’ she says, pointing, and Evie hums in mutual appreciation.

‘Hard colour to wear though – red,’ she says.

‘Needs a red lip for balance,’ Magda agrees. ‘Then you’re getting into lipstick on your teeth at a Christmas party …’

‘Or wearing that stuff to coat it so it doesn’t come off, and ending up with lips drier than the desert,’ agrees Evie.

‘Better to stick with a nude lip and neutral clothes palette.’ Magda laughs. ‘Never mind. I don’t like the jumper after all.’

They continue to walk, Magda slipping her arm into Evie’s.

‘You don’t think …’ Magda starts, and Evie can sense the tone shift immediately.

‘What?’ she says, with trepidation.

Magda scrunches up her nose, as if to say: Don’t get mad at me, I’m too cute.

‘It’s definitely finished with Daphne, isn’t it?’

‘For Duke?’

‘Yeah.’

‘I’m pretty sure, yeah. What do you mean?’

Magda shrugs. ‘Just that those photos of them hugging …’

Evie can’t figure out what Magda is getting at. Does she think that Daphne and Brad have just been a musical interlude in the ongoing love of Daphne and Duke? And is that Evie’s business?

‘Well,’ Evie says, ‘I appreciate you looking out for me, since you think, apparently, that me and Duke might … well, I don’t even know.’

‘Looking out for you is indeed all I’m trying to do,’ inserts Magda. ‘I’m just checking everyone’s intentions are clear and good, here. You seem to maybe … possibly … like him? And you haven’t liked anybody properly since …’

‘If you say Bobby’s name, I’m going to guide you to the nearest body of water and push you in.’

‘Why can you say his name?’

‘Same reason I can bring up my dad being a bastard and you can’t – it’s my business.’

‘Fair,’ says Magda. ‘Very fair. And yet …’

‘As a best friend you’re still going to push that boundary?’ supplies Evie.

‘You got it!’ Magda retorts. ‘It’s part of the job description. Not always, but when the situation necessitates.’

‘And you think this situation necessitates it?’