‘All evidence to the contrary,’ Evie counters. ‘In case you’ve already forgotten, my mother doesn’t know who I am anymore, and just so you have the full picture: my dad is a cheating asshat who left. I have seven half-brothers and sisters I’ve never met because of him.’

‘Oh,’ Duke says. ‘That’s horrible. I’m sorry you’re part of the Shit Dad Club too.’

Evie turns her back so she’s no longer facing the view, but leaning against the wall instead. She crosses her feet at the ankles and stuffs her hands in her pockets.

‘Should we get T-shirts made, or …?’ she jokes, and when they lock eyes it’s loaded. It really is a special kind of club, Evie thinks. You don’t know unless you know. ‘You seem remarkably well adjusted anyway,’ she adds. ‘So my compliments to your therapist.’

‘Ha.’ Duke smiles. ‘I’ll be sure to let Phoebe know.’

‘Phoebe?’ echoes Evie. ‘That doesn’t sound like a therapist name. Patrice, or Monica. Those are therapists’ names.’

‘Jonathan.’

‘Jonathan!’ exclaims Evie. ‘Yes. Maybe they should get a name change with their diplomas. I’d trust a Jonathan. Although, jeez, I don’t know how they do it, listening to everyone’s whining all day. I’d throw myself out of a window. Shall we walk? I’m freezing my nuts off.’

They decide to see if there’s a path back down to the main town at the opposite end of the opening to where they came, each emboldened by the other to explore.

‘So therapist is off the list of alternate careers for you I take it?’ Dukes enquires, as they find a very dimly lit passageway that could take them to exactly where they need to be, or end in their untimely mutual deaths by way of an axe-murderer in the shadows.

‘At this point, I am absolutely unemployable,’ Evie quips. ‘Who’s gonna give a job to a woman likely to use it as plot?’

‘Do I need to be careful what I say?’ Duke asks over his shoulder. He’s leading the way. Evie strains in the dark to get a good look at his ass before she’s really aware of what she’s doing. She catches herself. Why is she looking? It’s not like she’s into him or anything.

‘Always.’ She laughs. ‘I can make no guarantees.’

‘Duly noted.’ Duke chuckles, and Evie feels the need to clarify.