‘I don’t know. You were one of them girls I just didn’t speak to at school, all cool and confident, a bit too good for the rest of us, you know? I mostly mixed with people who scored weed off my brother at the time. You weren’t the weed-smoking type. I couldn’t wait to get out of there. Had big plans for myself, I did. I wanted to go to art college, become a famous artist and set the world on fire.’

I blush at his description of who he thought I was at the time. So strange to think I was in any way perceived as having an image of confidence and fearlessness when inside I didn’t even know who I was yet. If only we could have all seen inside each other, we would have seen we weren’t that different after all. He’s a good-looking man but he’s tarnished with the whispers of the past. Being here kept him as that stoner teenager, stopped him from moving on. He stares at the wall, whether from all the talk of the past or thoughts of a future he never quite reached.

‘What happened?’

‘My dad had a stroke and they needed me in the shop. Plus, art college was bullshit.’

‘And here you are.’

‘And here you are. Do you remember that party at Cameron Davies’ house?’ he asks.

‘Not really. I don’t remember that much to be honest.’ I really don’t.

‘We played spin the bottle and we had to kiss. That’s still on my highlight reel from year eleven. You were pretty wasted though. I’d probably get in trouble for that too, these days.’

I wonder if he can tell I have been drinking now. I really need to sober up. This was a bad idea.

‘I guess I must have been. I’m sorry.’

‘Isn’t it weird how something that can mean so much to one person can mean nothing to someone else? The exact same incident. When you kissed me during spin the bottle I didn’t even want to wash for a month afterwards.’

‘Grim.’ I laugh.

‘You know what I mean though. With all the popular boys sniffing around you all the time I’m surprised I was lucky enough to even be considered. I remember you didn’t even flinch, you just did it. It was sweet, made me feel like a bit less of a loser.’ He smiles, blushing.

‘It was just a silly game.’

‘Not for some of us. It meant something to some of us.’ He shrugs.

I feel bad for being so dismissive.