Some more of Mitch’s mates rocked up, a few of them with girlfriends, and they drifted into the room out back to play pool and watch footie. Caroline and Ashley seemed happy to just sit by the fire and drink as the stars began to light up the sky.

I heard someone call out, ‘Hey Caroline.’ We looked up and it was Trent. He looked delicious with the flickering light of the fire on his face. ‘You guys coming in or what?’

‘Nah, it’s all right, Trent,’ Caroline said. ‘Football is boring!’

‘Catch ya for a drink and a chat later,’ he said. I thought, Yeah sure, let’s do that.

As Trent walked away, Ashley said loudly, ‘I didn’t think your man was ever going to rock up, Pheebs.’ I could have died of shame because Trent heard, turned around and shot me a sweet smile.

My stomach did a backflip and I wondered if I should follow Trent inside or play it cool. And then Caroline switched on her speaker, handed me her phone and said, ‘You choose first.’ I put on ‘Praise the Lord’ by A$AP Rocky. Caroline and Ashley started to sing and dance along to the tune.

It was so much fun, listening to music and talking. I felt kind of grown-up and drunk at the same time, especially when I looked back up at the stars. They started to swirl but it didn’t bother me; I liked the sensation of being out of it. I liked the feeling of not giving a shit. And it actually helped me have some sympathy for Mum. That sympathy was short lived when I realised that I was really busting for the toilet.

I walked through the back room where the boys were playing pool with the footie on the massive screen and music blaring. Jamie was sitting on a couch speaking with one of Mitch’s friends and his girlfriend, and trying to act all cool. I could tell that he wanted me to go over and chat with him or something because his eyes were following me around the room like a parent watching a toddler walk around a department store.

Wondering where Trent was, I staggered down the hallway to the bathroom, laughing at myself.

When I went to open the bathroom door, Trent opened it from the other side. I was surprised. ‘Sorry.’

‘That’s fine,’ he said. ‘And hey, I meant to say earlier, you look really hot.’

Even though I was drunk, I knew that I was blushing. ‘Thank you.’

Before I knew it, Trent grabbed my hand and pulled me into the bathroom.

And then he leaned in and kissed me.