We started down the precisely shovelled path, and only after the first line of trees did I get a proper eyeful of the house. Until now, I hadn’t realized there was such a thing as too much brick. It was completely overpowering, domineering, all browns and reds, and warm light spilled from the upstairs windows on to the front lawn. The place looked like it belonged on a postcard, or like it could be the setting of a murder mystery where ten people are invited to dinner but only one gets to leave.

‘Whoa,’ I said.

‘It’s pretty crazy, right?’

‘Yeah. Beautiful.’

‘You think? I think it’s super-gaudy.’

My cheeks went hot. ‘Yeah, same.’

She smirked at me, then nudged me with her shoulder. ‘You fucking nerd. I mean, if anything, I can appreciate the … spectacle of it. But, nah. Not for me.’

‘What does Heath’s dad do?’ I asked, careful not to say ‘parents’.

‘He’s the city attorney.’ I looked at her, confused. ‘Yeah, I didn’t know Pleasant Hills had a city attorney either. Apparently we do. And apparently, he’s well paid. You know the Alderman Auditorium at the middle school? That’s not a coincidence. He funded it. Gave them hundreds of thousands for it, I guess.’

‘Man. Why?’

June waved her arms in a theatrical swoop. ‘A love of the arts? No, I don’t know. I don’t know much about the interior worlds of the supremely wealthy.’

‘What’s he like? Is he, I don’t know, nice?’

‘Heath’s dad? I couldn’t tell you.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘I’ve only met him, like, three times.’

‘You’ve only seen your boyfriend’s dad three times in three years?’

She shrugged. ‘He’s always away. Doing … things. Not sure what. But, eh. Between you and me – I don’t think he likes me very much.’

She laughed, but I felt awkward so I didn’t say anything else.

Low, distorted music drifted from the house as we drew closer, then tripled in sound as we stepped through the front door.

The entryway was impressive; the ceiling soared above a black-and-white tile floor and a dual set of curved staircases which swirled up to meet a balcony on the floor above. People were dotted around here, but the real commotion seemed to be coming from further inside the house.

‘June?’ someone called from the side room. Heath.

‘Hey, babe,’ she said, unironically.

‘Thanks for leaving me to set up by myself.’

June stiffened. ‘I-I was –’

He appeared round the corner, grinning wide and cradling a stack of plastic cups. ‘I’m just kidding. It’s fine.’ They kissed. I felt awkward about it – and slightly taken aback that June had stuttered. ‘Hey! I didn’t know you were bringing the freshman.’

I made a big show of widening my eyes, pressing a finger to my chest and looking behind me – who, me? They laughed and I swelled.