‘I suppose not,’ she replied. ‘When you look like you, you might as well use it in any way that you can, right?’

‘How do you mean?’

‘I mean it exactly as I said it.’

‘Right. Well, I mean, you’re gorgeous too,’ he said. ‘Imagine what our children would look like!’

‘You’re getting a little ahead of yourself there, don’t you think?’

‘I was only kidding.’

‘Sit down,’ she said. ‘What would you like to drink?’

‘A rum and Coke, if you have it.’

‘One rum and Coke coming up,’ she said, leaving the room, and he watched her as she left. She was absolutely perfect. He sat back and grinned to himself. I am the luckiest boy in the whole wide world, he thought.

When she came back in, she was carrying his drink and a glass of wine for herself but, to his disappointment, rather than sitting next to him, she chose an armchair some distance away. He frowned and took a sip before glancing in the direction of some photographs on the mantelpiece.

‘Is that your family?’ he asked.

‘Yes, my mum and dad. And me when I was a kid. But, of course, as I told you, my parents broke up last year.’

‘Oh yeah, I remember. I wouldn’t be surprised if the same thing happened with mine, to be honest.’ He nodded towards the newspaper. ‘I guess you read all about it?’

‘I did, yes. He seems like a bit of a shit, your father.’

‘He can be. But he’s okay most of the time.’

‘A bit like you, then,’ she said.

‘You think I’m okay most of the time?’

‘Or maybe I think you’re a bit of a shit.’

‘Ha ha,’ he said nervously, feeling a little uncomfortable with how this was going so far. He preferred it when he was more in control of the situation.

‘So I came prepared,’ he said finally.

‘Prepared for what?’

‘For … you know. For tonight. For us.’

‘That was very forward-thinking of you.’

‘Not that I think it’s just my responsibility. I’m not making decisions for you.’

She smiled. ‘You’re so Woke,’ she said.

‘Ha ha,’ he said again.

‘You seem nervous.’

‘Do I?’

‘Yes.’

‘No, not really.’

‘You seem it.’

He shrugged. ‘It’s just … is there something wrong?’ he asked. ‘You seem like you’re … I don’t know … judging me or something.’

‘And if I was, what kind of verdict would I come to, do you think?’

‘That I’m a charming, funny, good-looking boy who you want to ravage over and over until the sun comes up?’

She laughed and looked away. ‘Well, you know what they say,’ she replied. ‘Hope springs eternal.’

He stood up and made his way over to the photographs, planning on examining them for a few moments before pulling her to her feet and kissing her.