He gives me a big grin and then he helps prop Rodge up and they lead him down the street. It’s then that I see Rodge’s bare bottom.

‘Oh, that costume,’ I say, wishing I could unsee it. ‘Is it his birthday or something?’

‘His stag do.’

‘He came here on his stag do?’ I say, raising an eyebrow at the exterior of the cheesy club.

‘If you knew Dodge, you’d know it was pretty fitting. So, Spider—’

‘The name’s Ellie.’

He screws up his face. ‘Of course, Ellie. Shit, I’m supposed to be apologising and I’m digging myself a deeper hole. Look, I can’t remember the last time I ate, can I make it up to you by buying you some food?’

Max Voss has just asked me if he can buy me food? Didn’t I always fantasise about this moment? Play it cool, Ellie. ‘Why not,’ I say with a simple shrug.

‘Great,’ he says, turning and walking into the fried chicken shop next door. Not quite what I had in mind.

We order some chicken and chips and when it arrives Max carries the tray over to the red plastic chairs by the window. My skirt is so short that I’m concerned that my skin’s going to get so stuck to the plastic that it’ll peel off when I stand up.

‘Of all the people to bump into here, I never expected to see you in a club. Didn’t think it would be your kind of thing,’ he says, taking the cardboard boxes off the tray and handing one across to me.

‘Oh yeah, and what did you think would be my kind of thing?’

‘Oh, I don’t know, sci-fi conventions. You always were a geek,’ he says with a cheeky grin. I throw a chip at him and he laughs. ‘Ow, bloody hell, they’re hot.’

‘I know, I just burnt my fingers,’ I say, laughing.

‘I didn’t mean to offend you. I just meant that, you and Rach, well, you weren’t exactly known for going out. The only time I can remember is when I had to escort you both into a party because you were too scared to get out of the car.’ ‘Well, I’ve got slightly more confident in the last twelve years,’ I say, cringing at the thought. Him walking us into the party wasn’t the embarrassing part…

He gestures briefly at my chest. ‘And I see you have no need for tissue paper any more.’

That was the embarrassing part.