Ellen was moving around in the corner. It sounded a little like she’d knocked something over. Ben caught her eye and Alexa smiled conspiratorially, then felt instantly disloyal.

‘I’m not looking forward to my turn,’ Ben said, solemnly.

Alexa was about to laugh when she saw one of Ellen’s arms shoot out from behind the standing mirror.

‘The good news is, she appears to have finished.’

‘Thank God. I was trying really hard to pretend I couldn’t hear her.’ A smile. The dimple appeared, and the corners of his eyes crinkled too. ‘Right, I suppose I should go and relieve Jack of his duties.’ He leaned in and kissed her lightly.

‘I can come, if you’d like? Although Ellen will be back in a minute.’

‘Nah, stay. I can handle it solo.’

He stood up and loped towards the skylight, hoicking his jeans again as he paced the length of the room, slapping Jack on the back, and then squeezing in beside him. They were about the same height, she noted, although Ben was slightly broader, and Jack stood more awkwardly, as if trying to make himself as small as possible. Although the purpose was to relieve Jack of his duties, he seemed reluctant to leave his post.

Ellen had also not returned, although Alexa could see a flash of her pink jogging bottoms through the clutter. She appeared to be sitting down, staring at the wall. This did not bode well. Alexa considered climbing into the scrapheap to find her, but the time out was too appealing. She hadn’t had a moment to herself since 9 p.m. last night, and quite a lot had happened since then.

Feeling the first electric flutter of pins and needles, Alexa shifted until she was sitting with legs outstretched, her back against the door. She closed her eyes for a second, and an image appeared – waking beside Ben, with his arm thrown across her – and she opened her eyes again with a start, as if the others could see what she could.

Of course, this whole predicament was a nightmare. And, strictly, it was Ben’s fault. But aside from locking them in, he was doing pretty well: calm, cool, collected. And there were the eye crinkles, and the dimple. Maybe being stuck together wasn’t the worst thing.