If she had accidentally sounded like a small-town racist, then Zadie didn’t seem to have noticed. ‘I don’t know him,’ she said. ‘But I can ask Max. Did you like him?’

‘I did, but I fucked it up.’

‘How?’

She weighed the possible answers in her head. It was a funny story, really, however much it made her burn with shame. And it made her sound interesting, or, at least, it didn’t make her sound boring. ‘I accidentally stole someone’s spliff, and then I smoked it too fast and threw up on his shoes.’

Zadie laughed a surprisingly inelegant laugh and twisted her hair up into a cloud of a bun. The duvet slipped down, re-exposing her left breast and a small tattoo of three stars on her ribs. She followed Chloe’s gaze. ‘Oh, don’t. I got it on holiday in Turkey when I was fourteen, then had to wear a plaster over it every time we went on a family holiday. Max says it’s hideous.’

‘I like it.’

‘Do you have any?’

Chloe shook her head. ‘My parents take a similar view to yours.’

‘Parents are the worst. So, does he have your number?’

‘Rav?’

‘Yes, Rav. If he’s any kind of interesting person, he’ll be desperate to go out with you and see what you do next.’

‘I gave it to him when we were talking, but I don’t think he’s been in touch.’

‘Don’t think?’

‘I turned my phone off after the party.’

Zadie put her head to one side. ‘Shame is an entirely pointless emotion, and is almost exclusively experienced by women. It was a party. At least fifteen people vomited. Trust me, I know. It’s my house. We’ve had to start paying the cleaners double. Also, turn your phone on. I texted you and you didn’t reply. I was devastated.’ She took a long breath and stretched. ‘I’m exhausted. Literally can’t remember the last time I went to bed at a sensible time. Can I borrow your toothbrush?’

Chloe thought Zadie was joking initially. Then, ‘Yes, of course,’ she said weakly as Zadie went to the sink in the corner of the room.

‘You’re an angel. No matter how wasted I am, I can’t sleep without doing my teeth. Can you?’ Zadie climbed into bed. She turned her light off, turned to face the wall and, within moments, was breathing in a slow, even pattern.