This time, Johnny couldn’t keep the laughter in and he threw his head back and bellowed with complete abandon. ‘Easy, buddy,’ he said, holding up his hands in mock surrender. ‘There’s no need to go all Terminator on me, OK. I’m just saying this is a side of you that I’ve never seen before – that’s all.’

‘Yeah, well, if it were up to me, I wouldn’t even be going to this stupid fundraiser. But Bernie and Hannah both seem to think it’s all pointing that way.’

‘That’s why PR Girl’s gonna be there? For the cameras and stuff?’

Ward didn’t want to admit to his friend that he’d asked Hannah as his plus one. No point in giving Johnny yet another reason to make fun of him.

‘Exactly. Seeing as my fall from grace was pretty public, she wants to ensure my return to the fold is too.’

‘All about keeping the illusion alive, huh.’

Illusion.

The moment Johnny said it, Ward’s gut tightened.

That’s exactly what all of this was, wasn’t it? An illusion. Him and Hannah’s easy-breezy relationship, all the attention she’d been paying him, her apparent insight into who he truly was. It was all about keeping up appearances, purely designed to fit into the story she was selling the public – about how Ward was now a changed man, ready to play by the rules and be a Good Boy.

Tonight was a form of unveiling; a shiny new Ward McKenzie who’d left his wild side in the past and was now heading towards a bright, carefully orchestrated future.

‘What’s wrong? You got that look on your face.’

‘Nothing’s wrong. I was just thinking about something, that’s all.’

He’d been thinking about ripping the monkey suit off and walking away but couldn’t do that either if he wanted to get back on the team. So again, he had to go along with the charade.

‘You sure? You got that very same frown you get right before you hit someone.’

‘I’m good,’ Ward insisted. ‘I just want to get this whole thing over with tonight, that’s all.’ He decided to change the subject. ‘So hey, Melanie called and told me she wants to meet.’

Johnny’s eyes widened. ‘Why? What’s going on?’

‘I’m not completely sure but I got the feeling she thinks she might have made a mistake by ending things.’

Johnny broke out in a grin. ‘That’s great, man.’

‘Uh, yeah. I mean, I guess it’s a good thing. Problem is – well, I’m not sure what I want anymore. I’m finally in a place where I’m beginning to get my head on straight and I don’t want to risk going down the rabbit hole again.’

Johnny was silent for a moment. ‘I see what’s happening here,’ he said.