‘Eating’s cheating,’ Leia says, in her distinctly non-Nottingham accent. I think these two went to private school and that’s what they were trying to catch me out on. Idiots. I went to private school too. One of the most exclusive in the country. Thinking about it now, I have no idea why I lied to Carrie about Nottingham, of all places. I’m not even sure I’ve been there.

I pour a large measure of vodka into my glass and raise it briefly before knocking it back and refilling it. ‘Damn right it’s cheating. Let’s get on with this, eh?’

Carrie turns to me, amused. ‘Get on with what, exactly?’

‘We’re going to play a game, aren’t we?’

‘Oh yes,’ Leia says, clapping her hands. ‘Let’s play “Would You Rather?”’

I slam my glass down on the table and Jared flinches. ‘Bo-Ring.’

Carrie downs her own drink, then refills mine and hers. ‘I think “Never Have I Ever” is more what you’re after, V? Yeah?’

I turn to her and smile. ‘Yeah.’ Then we both turn to Jared and Leia, and I feel that frisson of connection with Carrie again, and it tingles right down to the pit of my stomach.

‘I’ll start,’ Carrie says, grinning. ‘Never have I ever … stolen something valuable.’

Jared and Leia give each other a look, and then Leia gives Jared a small shrug, and they both take a drink.

‘Oooh,’ Carrie says. ‘Go on, then, spill!’

‘Well,’ Jared says, ‘I’m not sure if it was truly valuable or not, but … when we went to Easter Island, we both picked up some pieces of crumbled rock from the base of one of the statues…’ He goes bright red, and I realise that he truly believes he has done something awful. I want to wind him up, but Leia is shifting uncomfortably, and I decide to leave it.

‘Naughty,’ Carrie says. ‘I hope you’re not cursed.’ She laughs, before turning to me. ‘Got to say, V, I am not at all shocked at you not drinking. Proper goody-two-shoes, aren’t you?’ She winks, and I give her a half-smirk. We both know that’s not true.

‘Me next,’ Jared says. ‘I’ve got an excellent one.’

I bet it isn’t.

‘Never have I ever … had sex with more than one person at the same time.’ He grins, ridiculously pleased with himself, but his face falls as neither me nor Carrie lifts a glass – but Leia does, and goes even redder than he did before.

‘Leia,’ I say, cocking my head to the side in faux wonderment. ‘Aren’t you a dark horse.’

Jared is staring at Leia with a strange mixture of lust and revulsion. ‘Lee-Lee?’ he says.

She shakes her head. Then barks out a laugh that is obviously fake. ‘Just kidding. I’ll take another drink to make up for it.’