He told her about his parents, not that there was much to tell. He felt colourless and drab next to her.

Around two in the morning she shivered.

I’m going to bed now, she said. You can walk me back to my room.

They parted at the door to her building.

See you soon? he said.

I can’t wait.

Those were the last words she had said before turning and walking through the door, and he thought of them now.

He had heard them and said them countless times, but never understood they could be literally true. The thought of waiting to see her was unbearable.

When he got down to the foyer of Chamberlain Hall there was a note stuck to the outside of his letter box. He grinned. It must be from Annabelle, telling him where they should meet.

It wasn’t. It was from the university office.

Please phone Lindsey Daley.

Just those four words. Lindsey must have called the university and left a message for him.

His euphoria was swept away by a feeling of dread. He did not want to call and speak to her – he was pretty sure she would want to give it another try, reconcile, get back together. But that was not on the cards.

He wasn’t sure why she thought it would be.

He might as well get it over with. He went to the phone boxes and put a couple of coins in. She answered on the second ring.

‘It’s me,’ he said. ‘I got a message from you.’

‘Oh,’ she said. ‘Right. How much money did you put in?’

‘Twenty pence. That’s all the change I have.’

‘I’ll call you back. What’s the number?’

‘What’s going on, Lindsey?’

‘I’ll call you back.’

He gave her the number.

‘So,’ she said. ‘I have news.’

‘Right.’ He paused. ‘What is it?’

She gave a little cough.

‘You’re not going to like this.’

‘Like what?’ The sensation of dread deepened.

‘Promise me you won’t be angry.’

‘Why would I be?’

‘Promise you won’t.’

‘How can I, if I don’t know—’ He stopped himself. This was pointless. ‘I promise.’

‘That’s not a real promise. You’re only saying it.’

‘Lindsey, tell me what it is. Please!’

There was a pause. ‘I’m pregnant.’

It took a few seconds for the meaning to sink in.

‘Pregnant? With a baby?’

‘Yes. With a baby. Your baby, before you ask.’

‘How?’ he said. ‘We used protection. Condoms. Every time.’

‘They’re not one hundred per cent.’

He tried to think of a time something had gone wrong. There were none. ‘I don’t get it.’

‘It happens. Nothing is foolproof.’

He couldn’t think of what to say. He couldn’t think of what to think. All he knew was that this was not good. ‘So what do we do?’

‘I know this is weird, but you need to call your sister.’