‘Bonfire’s gonna be beaut,’ Will says, peering over the wall of the tower to a tall triangle of timber two hundred metres along the beach – a local tradition.

‘Well, isn’t this the perfect vantage point?’ April says. ‘A fine idea of mine, even if I do say so myself.’

Our place. That’s what she’d called it. ‘Want to go to our place and watch the fireworks?’ she’d asked after their photography lesson yesterday, as if it was the most logical way for them to spend their Saturday evening. A couple of months ago Will would have instinctively reached for an excuse. But he agreed with barely a thought.

And he hasn’t even benefitted from any strange instructions to boost his confidence; for all the time spent waiting in the dark for his mysterious messenger, he’s established no contact since that night on the speedboat.

Is this a date? Will isn’t sure. He dressed as if it is: pressed shirt, fresh jeans, going-out trainers. He showered for a solid half-hour and he’s flammable with aftershave and hair products. As silly and unnecessary as he knew it to be, he even gave himself a once-over downstairs with Danny’s beard trimmer.

He feels overdressed now beside April, who’s wrapped in a wool coat nearly to the floor. Although he has noticed that her hair seems shinier than usual and she smells glorious, like a bar of soap.

‘Hit four hundred ticket sales today,’ April says.

Will sits on the rug opposite her. ‘Wow.’

‘Two grand in the bag and counting. Go us.’

‘Go you,’ Will says. ‘The disco’s your baby. I’m not taking any credit.’

‘Bollocks, Will. Anyway, it’s not a disco, it’s a rave! Managed to bag us a thousand glow sticks today, for nothing!’

‘Amazing.’

‘Oh, it will be. Two weeks to go, superstar DJ.’

‘Yeah, yeah.’

‘Been practising on those decks?’

‘Here and there.’ An hour a night, without fail.

‘I can’t wait, Will. You’re gonna be so good.’

‘If you say so.’

April checks her phone and curses under her breath.

‘What’s up?’ Will asks.

‘Sorry. Promised myself I’d stay off this tonight, give you my undivided.’

‘It’s cool, don’t worry.’

‘Just a friend in need. Shouldn’t moan. Been messaging me all day.’ She taps out a reply.

‘Anything I can help with?’

‘I’ve mentioned Lauren, haven’t I?’

Will pretends to rack his memory. ‘Think so. Poor little rich kid?’

‘Enough of that. She’s having a time of it.’

‘Didn’t she drop you like a stone?’

‘She did walk in on me … with her dad.’