Their room contained a double bed and a bunk bed. There was a family of four at check-in who were split between dormitories and had asked if there was a family room available; Alice had suggested to Ned that they swap, but he had shrugged and said they should have booked earlier.

She sat on the edge of the bed and slid her jeans off, taking care to be as quiet as she could. The last thing she wanted was to wake Ned and have to talk about the night.

She crossed to the bathroom and eased the door open, then sat on the toilet. When she was done, she grabbed her toothbrush – no flush, that could wait – and spread some toothpaste on it.

‘You’re back.’

Ned was standing in the doorway, arms folded. His eyes were red and swollen.

‘Hi,’ she said. ‘Did I wake you up?’

He shook his head. ‘I couldn’t sleep.’

She felt a pulse of anger. ‘You were lying there, watching me?’ she said. ‘It’s a bit creepy, Ned.’

‘I didn’t know what to say.’

‘Well,’ she said. ‘I’m back now, so I’ll brush my teeth and we can go to bed.’

He didn’t reply.

‘Ned. What’s wrong?’

‘What’s wrong?’ he said. ‘You’re asking me what’s wrong?’

She nodded. ‘Yes.’

‘What’s right?’ he said. ‘That’s the question. What’s right?’

‘I don’t understand.’

‘We came here to be together, and you prefer to spend time with a bunch of random people we hardly know.’

‘We were in the pub with them and you left,’ Alice said. ‘It was your choice.’

‘And then you meet someone new – an Australian “girl”’ – he made air quotes around ‘girl’ – ‘and decide even she’s more important than me.’

‘What do you mean, “girl”?’ Alice said, mirroring his air quotes. ‘Are you worried I was with another man?’

‘I’m not worried about anything.’

‘Ned, ever since the thing with that guy Michael you’ve been insecure about us, even though nothing happened with Michael. I don’t know what to do about it. We’re together. You’re my boyfriend. I don’t know what else I can say to make things better.’

‘I’m not insecure,’ he said, his jaw clenched. ‘You just spent the night in the pub while I was alone here. We’re on holiday, together.’

‘My God,’ she said. ‘I wish I’d gone to Australia with Nellie and Mads.’

‘You should have!’ he shouted. ‘You should have fucking gone with them if that’s what you wanted.’

‘I tried,’ she said. ‘I tried, but you stopped me.’

‘I didn’t stop you,’ he said. ‘I offered you an alternative.’

‘No,’ she said. ‘You made it so awkward for me to go that I stayed.’

As soon as she’d said it, she realized it was the wrong thing to say. His mouth dropped open.