It was strange to think that she’d never really seen other people getting this drunk before. Sober Louise had always headed home before it got too late, and Drunk Louise didn’t seem to see anything that wasn’t rose-tinted.

‘Oh my God, look at the state of him,’ she said to April, safe in their little cordoned-off area and watching as one of the other punters staggered over to the bar and then managed to drop all the cards out of his wallet onto the floor. He’d already tried to slobber over some poor girl and been told to sod off. ‘Please, please tell me I’m never like that.’

April glanced over at him stooping to pick the cards up, seemed to weigh it up, and then said, ‘Hell no. You’re way less coordinated.’

‘You can go fuck yourself,’ Louise said, with a laugh.

One of the bar staff came over and asked if they wanted anything, which felt bizarre to Louise. This was a crowded club. They ought to be elbowing their way to the bar. This VIP thing was strange.

‘I’d like another screwdriver,’ April said. ‘You should have one too,’ she added to Louise.

Louise looked at her doubtfully. ‘I’m not – I’m probably OK. I had the Prosecco.’

‘You sure?’ April asked it a little slyly, as if the only right answer was to change her mind. The inevitable pressure drinkers applied to those who were not drinking.

Louise let out a sigh. Truthfully, she felt a bit over-sugared. The three non-alcoholic cocktails she’d sunk had all tasted like variations on Um Bongo and she would really have killed for something to cut through it a little.

‘OK. A single gin and tonic. But that’s all. That’s me done for tonight.’

‘Great,’ April said, and then, to the guy taking their order, ‘Is Charlie here yet? He’s supposed to come say hi.’

‘Oh yeah,’ the guy said, glancing around. ‘I think he’s here. I’ll tell him.’

‘I’d love you to,’ April said, giving him a look that was one hundred per cent Predator Mode.

The guy grinned back at her as he walked away, and Louise shook her head. ‘I don’t think he’s your type.’

‘But that’s the thing,’ April argued. ‘Maybe my type needs to change.’

Louise narrowed her eyes at her. ‘What about this Charlie, then? Your friend? You seem quite keen to see him?’

April gave her a slightly wicked grin. ‘Oh, he’s a doll. But I was thinking of setting the two of you up, honey. He’s Chez. The guy you kissed at the wedding.’