He took a big swig of his beer. ‘Maybe,’ he said, looking more solemn again. ‘But I understand. I mean, she thinks I’m this’ – he grasped for the word – ‘villain from her past. And we were stuck in an attic. Until Jack, the unlikely hero of the hour, busted us out of there.’ He frowned. ‘Have you spoken to Ellen?’

Ellen had replied to Alexa’s WhatsApp on Sunday evening – though not until about twenty-four hours after Alexa had sent it. She’d been relieved to see her name appear.

All good here – just at Kayleigh’s

And oh yaaaaaay

I’m very glad my foot in mouth moment hasn’t ruined everything

To the end of this message, Ellen had added the emoji of the monkey with its face in its hands. It was one of her favourites. She sent one more message.

And hope your dad’s is cosy and he’s not driving you too mad xx

Alexa had replied immediately.

Oh, he is!

Motorbike this, motorbike that

Miss you x

She had added a pink emoji heart for good measure. Ellen had responded in kind. Since then, they’d reverted to their usual din of messages. Ellen had messaged about an hour before her date.

GOOD LUCK on your HOT DATE

(Not that you need it)

(Because i won’t be there so will run smoothly)

Love and miss you xx

PS call me tomorrow at lunch maybe?

She’d replied right away.

Eeek thank you

She’d adding a blushing emoji.

Yes I definitely will

Love and miss you too xx

‘We’ve spoken plenty,’ she reassured Ben now.

He still looked worried.

‘Honestly, we’re all good, really. We always are. I think she just found the whole day a bit overwhelming …’ Alexa wasn’t quite sure how to address what had happened between Ellen and Ben.

‘I’m completely stumped by it all,’ Ben said, carefully, reading her mind. ‘I hope I wasn’t too harsh on her. I just didn’t really understand what on earth was going on.’ He added, ‘Still don’t, really.’ He unfolded his leg and winced. ‘Sorry. Old football injury.’

Alexa smirked and raised her eyebrows.

After a beat, he continued. ‘Anyway. I’m so sure it wasn’t me, but she’s so sure it was and … I don’t know?’ He looked mystified.

Alexa watched him here, as she’d watched him in the attic, looking for any tells that would suggest he was lying. But he was holding her gaze, and looked troubled. She believed him.

He went on. ‘I texted my sister to ask her if she could remember anything, but no leads there.’ Ben’s eyes were wide and searching. ‘It’s such a weird, unsolved mystery.’

Alexa frowned. ‘I think Ellen’s also weirded out that she might be misremembering things,’ she tried.