‘It must be when I’m doing my workouts. I’ve got a squeaky ab cradle and the grunting is when I’m doing weights. I’ve been trying to get a six-pack.’

I turned back to him and my eyes flitted down to his waist before my cheeks started to burn.

‘Obviously I haven’t been doing it for long,’ he said, this time with a brazen wink.

Neither of us said anything and it took all my self-control not to cross the room and kiss him. I’d never felt that way about a stranger before and the way he was looking at me, it was like he felt it too.

The main door of the flat opened and Soph walked in and whatever spell we were under was broken.

‘There you are. What are you wearing? You are not going to bed.’

I groaned. I’d been hoping I’d be tucked up asleep before she came back to change.

‘Well, I would be if there wasn’t some naked guy in it.’

‘Hot,’ said Soph, walking in before she put her hands over her eyes and yelped. ‘Joel, gross. Put some clothes on. Oh, Edie, please don’t tell me that you’re hooking up with him?’

‘No,’ I said, following her out to the corridor whilst Joel scrambled to find his clothes. I wondered what exactly was wrong with him. He might not have a six-pack, but he was still cute. Not that I was looking. I had a boyfriend.

‘That’s my cousin, Joel.’

‘Your cousin?’

‘Yes, and I just saw his … Why don’t you have a bigger pillow?’

‘Sorry, I hadn’t been expecting—’

‘Right, unless you want me acting like a total bitch tomorrow, keep the noise down,’ said Elizabeth, poking her head out of the door.

‘You mean she hasn’t been acting like a bitch this whole time?’ whispered Soph.

Joel appeared fully dressed and we followed him out onto the wooden walkway.

‘Sorry, about that … I still don’t know your name.’

‘Edie.’

‘Sorry about that, Edie. I’ll leave you to it, ladies in red.’

‘Why did he call us ladies in red?’ I asked, watching him walk away.

‘Because of our work shirts. The entertainment team often put the song on at the disco – you know, ‘Lady in Red’ – and then the guys try and dance with us. It’s so cheesy.’

We watched Joel hesitate when he got to the stairs.

‘Do you think you can find it OK or do you need us to walk you?’ Soph shouted.

‘Goodnight,’ he called, waving as he went up.

‘He is so embarrassing.’ Soph took my hand and dragged me into her room.

‘I thought he seemed cute.’

‘Oh, no. Don’t do that. Joel is great, he really is. He makes an awesome friend, but don’t fancy him.’

‘I’ve got a boyfriend.’

‘Uh-huh. When does that seem to stop people around here?’