How long they kiss for, locked together, absorbed – dissolved – in one another, it’s hard to say. Certainly by the time they can bring themselves to be a few centimetres apart, the firework display has finished its noisy finale. Once again, there’s just the background rumble, as if a battlefield is being shelled in the far distance.

‘What took you so long?’ April asks.

‘Have you been, like, waiting for me to …’

‘Only, like, forever.’

‘Shut up. You serious?’

April adds neat spirits to one empty cup and they both take a swig. ‘Since I met you, Will. Since that night we broke down at the level crossing.’

‘You’re such a liar.’

‘Not a lie, Will.’

‘Why’ve you not said anything?’

April shrugs. ‘Nervous, I guess.’

‘How can I possibly make you nervous? That’s ridiculous.’

‘Because you’re nice, Will. And I’m not used to that. And you’re fun.’ She runs her fingers through his hair. ‘Don’t worry, you’re gorgeous as well,’ she whispers.

A crowd has begun to gather on the beach not far from the Martello tower. A cheer goes up as the bonfire is lit. Will and April hold each other as they watch the flames roaring into the night.

‘Funny, isn’t it?’ April says. ‘All those people down there, and they’ve got no idea you and me are up here.’

‘Guess so.’

‘Kinda hot, don’t you think?’ April moves the blankets from where they were sitting against the wall, laying them flat in the middle of the tower. Orange light flickers over her as she lies down and pulls the rug over her. ‘Or is that just me being weird again?’

Not permitting himself any time to think about it, Will shuffles into the makeshift bed next to her. They kiss passionately again, their hands beginning to explore each other’s bodies.

Will strokes his fingertips along the small of her back, her shoulders, her neck. When he finds the catch of her bra, he begins the process of trying, by feel alone, to work out how the hell such a thing is released. Soon both hands are involved, shaking and no closer to a solution.

April giggles as she kisses him. ‘You give up?’ she eventually whispers.

‘Shit. Sorry. Yeah. It’s …’

‘Don’t worry, Will.’ She pulls away from him and releases it herself, slipping her arms from the straps of her dress.

‘Fuck,’ Will says. ‘Fuck. You’re so beautiful.’

Over and over again he says it, he can’t stop himself. He allows himself to gently touch her naked breasts. April shudders as he glances his thumb over a hard nipple.