‘What you and I do together,’ he said softly, seriously, ‘it’s separate from my family life. I care about you, Eva, and I value the time we spend together. But I need us to be clear about what this is. It’s amazing and exciting and fun. But it’s just temporary. You do know that, right?’

Her heart was drumming so loud, she thought he must be able to hear it.

‘Yeah, of course. I know that.’

He breathed out with relief. ‘Good. Just when you were going on there about us living together and stuff, I was worried that maybe we weren’t on the same page—’

‘No, no. I get it. Hey, I was just messing with you,’ she smiled, trying to make light of it.

‘You’re sure?’

‘Of course! I know what this is. A torrid affair, right?’

‘Definitely torrid,’ he laughed, but there was a little undercurrent of nerves in his voice, like he wasn’t entirely convinced. Then, he added: ‘Sometimes I wonder what it is you’re doing with me. I mean, right now you should be in college, hanging out with boys your own age, having all your experiences with them.’

‘Maybe I wanted a different kind of education,’ she said coyly, sidling up to him, watching for his doubt to slip out of sight.

It worried her, though, the risk that was always there: that she might lose him. Sometimes, Eva wished she had someone to confide in about her relationship with Ross. She would have told Alicia once, but not now. Not after her betrayal. The only person who knew was Corinne, who wielded the knowledge like a threat.

She had no choice but to keep her own counsel. And when he kissed her, she convinced herself that everything would be all right. It was just the two of them cut adrift from the real world. They didn’t need anyone else.

Mid-October, dark mornings, damp evenings, summer a distant memory now. Their schoolwork became intense, arduous, all the heavy lifting to be done before Christmas, Halloween tests approaching. The time left before Corinne’s departure was rapidly shrinking and it pained Beth to think of it.

Friday evening, rain pelting down, Beth borrowed Mark’s Visa and booked cinema tickets. Joker was showing in Dundrum. They could get the bus there. She had money for Eddie Rocket’s afterwards. Beth had picked her own clothes to wear but still she sought approval. In her bedroom, she waited for Corinne to finish her shower.

Downstairs, the front door slammed, footsteps thundering up the stairs, followed by the sound of Eva’s bedroom door closing.