They stepped closer to the bar, and she saw that Callum Ferguson was behind the counter, wearing the club’s signature red polo-shirt with his jeans, concentrating on the pint he was pulling. It was strange, seeing Lisa’s brother working there, the familiar ruddiness of his cheeks. She had overheard her mother on the phone consoling Irene over Callum’s disappointing exams, his failure to gain a place on any of his desired choices.

‘I guess he must be working here now,’ Beth said, having pointed him out, but Corinne acted as if she hadn’t heard, or didn’t care. She was sullen and distracted, unwilling to be drawn into conversation.

‘Do you want to find a table?’ Beth asked. ‘I can get the drinks—’

At that moment, she heard someone calling her name, and when she turned to look, her skin prickled with alarm. Sasha, Nicole and Lisa were sitting nearby, still in their tennis whites, their post-match lunches spread out on the table before them.

‘Look who’s back,’ Sasha trilled, her eyes alighting on Corinne, and Nicole laughed. ‘Couldn’t live without you, huh?’

‘Ignore them,’ Beth said, but Corinne just continued staring ahead, her face unreadable.

‘Hey, Beth!’ Nicole called out loudly. ‘How’s the transitioning going? Had your hormone shot today?’

Sasha spluttered with laughter.

‘Fuck you,’ Beth snapped, but she felt her cheeks prickling with heat.

They’d had a field day with her hair and tattoo since term started again, taunting her about being gender-neutral, non-binary, a dyke. Unwelcome hands fingering the ends of her hair, jostling with her for a glimpse of the rose on her neck.

‘Ah, it’s cute,’ Sasha went on in her sweetly poisonous tone. ‘You two back together again. What an adorable couple you make.’

‘Hey, do your parents let you share a bed?’ Nicole enquired. ‘Pretty open-minded, aren’t they?’

‘Oh, we’re all liberals here, Nicole,’ Sasha cooed, taking a bite from her apple and giggling as the juice ran down her chin. ‘Hey, didn’t she make a pass at you one time?’ she asked, turning to address Lisa, who sat up straight, her eyes flashing with alarm.

‘What? No, I—’

‘Didn’t you tell us that she tried to kiss you once?’ Sasha continued in her dangerous tone: ‘Told you how she adored you?’

Callum Ferguson was looking over now, taking in the scene, listening to every word. But another voice crept into Beth’s thoughts: My lovely girl. It’s our secret, isn’t it? Our special time. The words weaving their own silvery path.

She was willing Lisa to look at her, but Lisa was wrapping her sandwiches back into their tinfoil, her cheeks flushing crimson.