The guy shrugs as if ‘together’ is an outmoded concept. ‘We both think you’re hot,’ he whispers, his tongue brushing past Will’s earlobe as he speaks.

Will waits for the surge of nerves, of self-limiting panic. It doesn’t come. He feels nothing other than excitement. So what that he doesn’t know these people? That they don’t know him is surely a benefit. Because right now he’s just Will, not son of Tori and Mike Parks, not brother of Danny.

‘You’re really hot, too,’ he says to the guy. The thrill is electric.

The girl steps nearer. A hand rests on Will’s navel, fingertips tickling his flesh. Instinctively he breathes in, a gap opening between the front of his jeans and his waist, an invitation. The guy hooks his thumb behind Will’s belt. His lips contact Will’s. ‘Pleasure to meet you,’ he says, their tongues briefly rolling against each other’s.

Will feels fingertips exploring him. He’s not sure whose they are. But he knows it’s the best thing he’s ever felt.

‘Cerys,’ the girl says softly. ‘He’s Tab. And you are?’

Will laughs at the absurdity of only now exchanging names. ‘Will. I’m Will.’

He leans towards her. If what happened with Tab just now didn’t count as his first proper kiss, this one definitely does.

‘So how about it?’ Tab asks.

‘Maybe,’ Will says, his heartbeat trying to hammer its way out of the vein in his neck. Is this a chance to find out for certain? he wonders. Whether those things he feels around Alfie really mean anything. To know for sure if he is or isn’t gay – bi at least. These people probably won’t even remember him in the morning. The stakes couldn’t be lower.

Tab leans closer to Will’s ear and whispers. ‘Let me make you come, gorgeous.’

‘Fuck it,’ Will says, ‘let’s do it.’

Tab grabs his left buttock and guides Will towards the pool.

This is mad, Will’s thinking. I’m at a party, buzzing on Ecstasy, about to join a couple in a steam room to do God knows what. All because a batty old dear told me to be here.

‘How do you know Lauren?’ Cerys asks as they weave their way through the crowd.

‘Lauren?’

Tab chuckles. ‘Lauren Hall. Girl whose party it is.’

‘Lauren Hall?’

‘You do know her, right?’

It feels like a spell being broken. That name. There’s a few seconds when his fizzing mind can’t place it. He feels a dull nausea all the same.

‘You OK, Will?’ Cerys whispers.

‘Lauren Hall?’ Will says, suddenly remembering those yelled accusations the night of Danny’s fight. ‘Used to be best friends with April …’ He’s talking to himself rather than asking them.

‘Yeah, well, less said about that the better,’ Tab says.

‘Lauren’s dad,’ Will mumbles, an urgency to follow his instructions returning.