Jordan let out the mother of all sighs and closed his eyes. “Siri, what is the definition of disaster?”

I cracked up laughing and Angus was still nodding, still smiling.

A waiter appeared at our table, pen and pad in hand. “Oh, thank God,” Merry said. “Please bring us food. It doesn’t matter what kind. Any kind. The fastest thing on your menu, times four.”

“Oooh, food,” Angus said, sitting forward and looking over the menu again. “There once was a man who was famished…”

I laughed again and Jordan put his head on the table. We did manage to order something, and we spent the next few hours eating and laughing… well, mostly laughing. Angus’ high eventually waned, leaving a headache in its wake. Merry had some Panadol in her bag, which he took, and our conversation was quieter after that. The restaurant was almost empty when Jordan excused himself to go to the bathroom.

“So,” Angus said. “Tell us, what’s the story?”

“Story of what?”

“Of you. What’s your life story?” He turned his empty water glass on the table. “I’m guessing you could be around for a while, so what do we need to know.”

“Oh.” My lip drew down. “I’m kind of boring, really. I grew up on the Gold Coast with my parents and two sisters, Saffron and Siobhan. And yes, Saffron, Siobhan, and Hennessy—we got a lot of shit at school for our names,” I said with a laugh. “I was always interested in computers and coding, even in high school. I have a masters in computing science and security, and now, I work with my best friend. Actually, I work for my best friend. It’s an internet security company and it’s like a partnership; I run the technical side but he owns the company and deals with the finances and taxes. It suits me. I moved to Surry Hills when my ex live-in boyfriend decided being with an asexual person wasn’t enough for him. I take the bus because it minimises my carbon footprint. I run four kilometres every day, and I have two Siamese fighting fish and a cactus.”

“What are their names?” Angus asked.

“The fish are Ali and Bruce,” I said, a little embarrassed. “After the only two fighters I could name.”

“Mohammed Ali and Bruce Lee,” Angus said, like he got points for knowing that.

“Yep. And the cactus is called Spike.”

Merry smiled but there was an edge to her brow. “Tell us, what have you learned about Jordan tonight?”