‘Sure,’ she smiled, walking over too and standing close enough to seem relaxed. But her pulse told her otherwise. Standing by his side was the closest she had been to him since they’d been in the pool. What are you doing here? was the only thing he’d said to her since his last fateful words, I hate you too. The knowledge of what they’d done was as solid and immovable between them as a house.

The only saving grace was that Ari didn’t appear to know. Like Beau, there was no knowing look in his eyes when he spoke to her, no smirk on his lips. As incredible and unbelievable as it seemed, she didn’t think Kit had told either one of them.

‘So did you enjoy Saas-Fee?’ Ari asked.

‘You sure looked like you did,’ Kit said.

His tone was noncommittal but from that single comment, she knew he had seen her with Mikey at the bar. Nothing he ever did or said was careless. Everything had a point.

‘Well, it helped that the weather was so great,’ she managed, refusing to get drawn into an argument or even a defence. It was none of his business who she kissed; just like it was none of hers who he . . . She remembered the black-haired girl. ‘. . . And we even got a bit of a tan finally!’

Too late she realized she’d drawn attention to her face and she saw Kit’s gaze settle on her cheek now, examining the dying traces of her bruise. His, too, had practically disappeared.

‘Carlotta said Beau stayed back?’ Johnny enquired, looking hesitantly between her and Kit as they examined each other’s faces.

‘That’s right,’ Ari said over his shoulder, pouring Johnny’s drink too. ‘You know what an animal he is for the powder.’

‘Right . . . Who’s he with?’

‘Just some homies he hooked up with. He’ll be back in a few days. Kit wants to get into the pits anyway and embed some of the tricks he picked up out there, so . . .’

‘Ah.’ Johnny’s gaze flitted over to Clover, as if he’d got an answer for her. No great conspiracy after all.

Ari turned, the four of them standing in a loose square. ‘Well,’ he said, discerning something of the tension that knitted them together. ‘. . . Cheers.’

‘Cheers,’ Johnny and Clover said in unison.

‘So what are you gonna play us next, Johnny?’ Ari asked into the silence. The needle had come off the record and was back in its cradle, ‘Gimme Shelter’ being the last song on that side of the album.

‘Hmm,’ Johnny said, grateful for an excuse to turn away and walk back towards the records. ‘What do you feel like? Something with some guitar? Drums?’

‘It has to be something that will get Clover dancing again – and Kit smiling.’

Johnny froze momentarily before getting back down on the floor.

Kit glowered at his manager, looking suddenly furious.