Matty dismissed his suggestion with a withering look and moved her arms in a calming motion. ‘Okay. Let’s not panic. I think we’re in pretty good shape.’ Clover didn’t find that calming, coming from someone whose mascara had migrated onto her cheeks and had a biro stuck in her hair. They were all much the worse for wear.

‘Mats, there’s two of you! I’m still drunk! I’m not sure they’ll even let me on the plane.’

But Matty shook her head, refusing to be panicked. ‘We’ll do a checklist.’ There was nothing in her world that couldn’t be solved by a list of some sort. She closed her eyes and compiled a mental inventory. It was like watching someone meditate. ‘Passport?’

Clover reached into her bag and pulled it out. ‘Yup.’

‘Visa?’

‘Yep.’

‘Purse?’

‘Yes.’ Clover nodded, her eyes skating towards the window. She was sure she could see the exhaust fumes from her waiting car drifting past the glass. She was so late. How could she have thought ‘farewell drinks’ at Soho House would end in any way other than how it had?

‘Shoes? And that means heels – not trainers.’

Clover thought, reminding herself of the moment of packing them. ‘Yep.’

‘Tux?’

‘Yes.’ She definitely remembered that. It was a bugger to pack to avoid getting crease lines in the velvet.

Matty’s eyes opened. ‘Not that it matters. I’ve managed to get a couple of dresses sent to your hotel room. Don’t ask me how I did it. A few well-placed calls . . .’ She took in Clover’s underwhelmed expression and rolled her eyes. ‘Thank me later. Chargers? Including your toothbrush charger? You always forget that.’

‘Yes.’

‘Adaptors?’ Johnny offered from the next room. His one contribution to getting her to LA on time. He was pushing himself slowly up to a sitting position, his shaggy dirty-blonde hair looking more tangled than ever.

‘Oh shit. Adaptors.’ Clover caught her hair in her hands, twisting it at the temples. Where had she last seen them?

Matty caught her by the shoulders as she went to tear clothes from yet more drawers. ‘No time. You can get them at the airport. I’ll WhatsApp you a list while you’re in the car. Stay focused. Speech?’

‘On my laptop.’

‘Okay then. Laptop?’

Clover’s eyes widened. ‘Shit!’

‘Clo!’ Matty cried, losing her cool. ‘Sort it out! Laptop is basic!’

‘I know!’ Her phone buzzed. It was the driver again.

Matty reached onto the bed and pulled Clover’s laptop out from under the twist of clothes and the thick eiderdown. Clover stuffed it into her hand luggage. ‘Right, I’ve gotta go. Anything else I’ve forgotten, it won’t be a disaster, I can get out there.’

‘Yes. Good. Go, go!’ Matty clutched her hard, her fingertips digging into the back of Clover’s shoulders. ‘It’s going to be incredible.’