They talked for over an hour – about everything and nothing. Minnie felt that warm hum of contentment as she sparked into life. She felt relaxed and fun, interesting and interested – it was the version of herself she most enjoyed being. They strolled the long way back around the heath down to the Tube.

‘Thanks for the post-swim bap chat,’ he said, hands in his pockets as they stood outside the station.

‘No problem,’ she nodded, combing a hand through her tangle of curls.

‘I guess I might see you next time,’ he said. The train roared into the station. ‘I’m going to get this one south.’

‘I’m going north,’ she said, indicating the other platform with her thumb. The train doors opened and Quinn got on. He turned around to look at her as the doors slid shut and he held his hand up, in a motionless wave. Their eyes connected and he gave her a little smile. She stayed on the platform watching his train pull away, their eyes locked on to each other until the tunnel pulled him out of view.

8 August 2020

‘So you just talk?’ Leila asked her.

‘Yes, we just swim, walk, talk and eat bacon sandwiches,’ said Minnie.

‘And nothing in between? No texts, no emails, not even an emoji?’ Leila looked confused.

‘No, no emojis. What emoji would I send? Swimming man, bacon and a wavy hand?’

‘Oh, there’s this cute little baker emoji, I always think of you when I see it.’

Minnie and Leila were sitting in the audience of a fashion show Leila had helped produce. Minnie was there as her ‘plus one’. They sat in prime position on the front row watching outlandish outfits parade past. There were models dressed in giraffe-print hot pants, wearing huge elongated hats with giraffe’s heads on the top. The fashion show was taking place in a converted church near Aldgate. The pews had been turned inwards towards the raised catwalk and the church ceiling was alive with light projections pulsing in time to the DJ’s music. The whole event had a very cool east London vibe.

‘Are these all animal-themed outfits?’ Minnie asked. ‘I’m not sure I could pull off a giraffe-head hat.’

‘It’s sustainable, animal-friendly fashion – one designer’s been a bit literal,’ Leila explained.

Leila was dressed in her usual demure style – a 1950s-style cocktail dress in silky silver fabric, with a superhero-style cape made of what looked like pink candyfloss. On her head she wore a small top hat with a placard attached to it, which read, ‘It’s a hat, deal with it.’ Minnie felt conspicuous wearing black jeans and a simple blue cotton blouse.

‘Anyway, tell me more about these swim dates. Are they as fuelled with sexual energy as the banana role-play situation?’ Leila said, turning back to her friend.