‘What do you mean, you’ve read them all from cover to cover?’ she’d asked, disbelieving. Her fingers had been running along the spines of the blue faux leather books, but her head swivelled to look at him. ‘No one reads encyclopaedias from beginning to end – you use them for reference!’ She’d laughed. Paul had narrowed his eyes then, trying to work out if she was taking the piss, but she’d come over, one of the encyclopaedias in her hand, and kissed him on the forehead, and any anger he’d felt had immediately melted away.

Just like that.

She had the power to literally change him from the inside out.

‘Okay, let’s see, shall we?’ Claire had giggled as she opened the book to a random page. ‘We’ll start with C for Claire,’ she added, indicating the volume of the encyclopaedia. Flicking through the pages, Paul observed her as she scanned the book, drinking her in. ‘Okay, Cambodia,’ she continued. Paul barely heard her. Instead he took in her bowed head, the way her blonde hair fell across her face, her fingers as they trailed the pages. He imagined those fingers on his body. God, it was almost too much for him.

‘What is the capital of Cambodia?’

It was an easy question and he reluctantly dragged his brain to focus on what she was saying. Hadn’t Brian’s brother, Simon, said that girls loved it when you listened to them? Christ, it was hard though. All he wanted was to kiss her, feel her lips pressed on his. He remembered shaking his head as if to clear the thoughts away, and Claire had laughed, thinking he was pretending not to know the answer to her question.

By some miracle he’d managed to control himself and he screwed up his face, joining in her game and giving fake answers. She’d seen straight through him of course and she’d playfully swatted him, giving him the opportunity to grab her and pull her body closer to him. He’d whispered the correct answer in her ear, and then they’d kissed. And after that, she didn’t get the chance to ask him any more questions.

He was so lost in the memory; he almost didn’t see Claire leave the house. The front door opened, and she slammed it behind her, the noise alerting Paul to her movement. The outdoor porch light lit her up and he watched as she walked quickly to her car. He was lost in her and he felt his whole body respond like a drug addict taking a long-awaited hit. Claire was wearing a long formal coat and a pair of trainers and Paul guessed she’d been in a hurry to leave. Even he knew, with his limited knowledge of fashion, that she was mismatched.