As she got off the bus near her house, a car driving past opened a window and threw out a polystyrene container. It bounced off the kerb and spattered her green Capri trousers with a warm yellow gunk, something that smelt like curry sauce.

As she turned the corner of her street and got closer to her front door, she saw that it was hanging open. Oh great, she’d been robbed. The perfect end to the perfect evening. She walked cautiously towards the doorway and heard a noise inside; whoever had broken in was still there. Oh god, where was Lucky? Would he have escaped through the open door? She should call the police; she shouldn’t try to confront the intruder alone. She paused, conflicted. Her warm, hooded parka was just there on the peg, visible through the open door. She was freezing; she could grab it and then run and call the police. She reached out to take it, just as a figure emerged from the kitchen. Minnie screamed and threw the coat she was holding over the figure’s head.

‘I’ve called the police!’ she yelled, running back out into the road.

‘Minnie?’ she heard a muffled voice calling after her.

How did the burglar know her name? She slowed down and turned to see Quinn, in black tie, holding her parka in his arms.

‘It’s you? Oh god, I thought someone was robbing my flat,’ she said, holding her chest, breathless with the adrenaline.

‘The door was wide open,’ said Quinn. ‘I was worried something had happened so I went in to check. Sorry I scared you.’

Minnie looked at him and blinked, she couldn’t believe he was here.

‘You’re shivering,’ he said, wrapping her coat around her shoulders and guiding her inside.

Minnie quickly checked the flat but nothing looked to be missing. Lucky was sitting contentedly on the sofa licking his paws, and she rushed over to pick him up, nuzzling her face into his fur.

‘I guess maybe I didn’t shut the door properly when I left,’ she said with a frown. “My dad warned me the door had a dodgy lock.’

Quinn stood in the hall, as though waiting to be invited in.

‘Where did you go?’ he asked.

Minnie came to stand opposite him and he reached out to take her hands in his.

‘Westminster Pier – I missed the boat.’

‘I wasn’t on it,’ the dimple on Quinn’s cheek creasing into life.

‘I can see that,’ she said, biting her lip. ‘You came all the way up here, you missed your party.’

‘If you want to stay in and hide from the jinx, I will stay and hide with you.’

‘I thought I might have missed the boat with you too … ’ She paused awkwardly. ‘ … I didn’t know if you’d still feel the same.’

‘Minnie Cooper, I think it’s time I showed you exactly how I feel.’