We thought we’d found the solution to everything, because we’d found each other. But with him gone, nothing adds up any more.

Chapter 2: Dan

‘Which trainers will impress her the most?’

Vijay squints at the box-fresh pair I’m holding, then down at the scruffy ones I’m wearing and all the others lined up on the bedroom floor.

‘I’m still trying to get my head around the size of your collection. How come I never knew this about you?’

‘I like trainers, OK? It’s not a crime.’

‘No, but neither is it entirely normal for a grown man to own this many.’

‘Says the man who has collected more vinyl than Elton John. Anyway, stop taking the piss and tell me which she’s going to think are the coolest.’

Vijay snorts. ‘You’re in massive trouble if you have to ask me for advice on fashion or girls.’

Too right. I am in massive trouble.

I flop back down onto the bed and the astronaut-tested layers mould to my shape. Vijay’s mattress cost more than my jeep, and I imagine the memory foam swallowing me whole.

‘The Queer Eye guys haven’t returned my call, so you’re all I’ve got, Veej.’

He frowns. ‘OK. How about the Vans? Or go for Converse if you don’t want to seem like you’re trying too hard. But I bet she doesn’t even look at your trainers. It’s the real Dan she wants to get to know.’

‘Not comforting.’ I’ve got sixty minutes max before she shows up. Enough to change my shoes. Nowhere near long enough to transform my entire personality.

‘Come on. You are Dan the Man, great laugh, with not just one but two cool jobs, a posse of outstanding mates . . .’ Vijay grabs my hand to help me up from the mattress. ‘Not to mention your amazing bachelor pad.’

I grin. ‘Yeah. Thank you again for letting us stay.’

He shakes his head. ‘No sweat. I wasn’t going to be here much anyway.’ We walk through the living room and out onto the terrace. The day’s barely begun, but it’s gonna be a scorcher. The water shimmers and I reckon the view of Bristol Harbourside will blow Casey’s mind.

Except I don’t know that. I know nothing about her.

Vijay reaches under the pizza oven for the emergency packet of cigarettes and offers me one. I shake my head: nicotine breath won’t impress Casey or her mother.

‘OK. I need small talk. What are the cool kids chatting about these days?’

He strikes a match, lights his cigarette. ‘Harrison is obsessed with Minecraft, which by definition makes him one of the uncool kids.’

‘Like father, like son.’

‘Which means your daughter should be the epitome of cool, if she takes after you. How about music?’

I groan. ‘We’ve already had that conversation on FaceTime. She basically thinks all music recorded before 2010 is rubbish.’

‘TV then? Harrison likes Stranger Things. And, inexplicably, The Great British Bake Off.’

I shake my head. ‘I’m not a cupcake guy. Oh shit, Veej. I am not cut out for any of this.’