Initially, all this made her feel quite daring. She was being treated like a tart and she loved it. As time passed, however, she came to realise that she was merely pandering to Kevin’s baser instincts and getting very little worthwhile in return. She began to feel used, and she did not care for it.

Eventually she had enough. When Kevin called one night demanding she get ready instantly, Marie’s response was succinct. Kevin exploded down the phone, calling her every foul name that she had ever heard of, and quite a few that were new to her. He would have nothing more to do with her. She would regret it.

Kevin was as good as his word.

But Marie didn’t regret it.

When he discovered she had gone to Strathclyde University to read business studies it was all the proof he thought he required. She would be mixing with a load of toffee-nosed gits. She wouldn’t have two pennies to rub together. She would have to shag the teachers to get through the exams. Better off without her.

Kevin had to content himself with a series of cheap, meaningless relationships but in reality, he missed Marie. He had enough trouble admitting this to himself. He could not admit it to anyone else and certainly would never let Marie find out.

The girl lying next to him was just one more in a long line.

Kevin recollected being in the club knocking back large VATs. He remembered chatting up various females, or at least indulging in what for him passed for chatting up. One of them had been blonde. He had a vague picture in his mind of changing the order to champagne cocktails, a lethal blend of cheap sparkling wine, brandy, Cointreau and Angostura bitters. He knew he would have driven his car – he always did. He recollected rolling around on the floor with a girl, trying to pull her clothes off. He did not remember if he succeeded. As far as sex was concerned neither his memory nor his groin could assist him. If he had done the business, he could only hope that he had enjoyed it at the time. By the look of things he was getting bugger all now.

Kevin climbed out of bed and headed for where he thought the bathroom might be. He was halfway to the door when his hangover caught up with him, swiftly followed by a wave of nausea. He lurched into the hall and luckily found himself facing his intended destination. He made it to the toilet with moments to spare.