‘I don’t think I am. Mum and Dad were pretty chilled growing up,’ he says, tapping the cards on the table as he talks. ‘We surfed every day, even in the winter, and life was bliss.’

‘And then?’ I ask.

‘My mates went to uni and I just knew it wasn’t for me,’ he says, looking up at me. ‘Thought I’d rather spend the three years travelling the world and spunk money that way rather than sitting in lectures every day with some boring old dude droning on at me about a subject I wouldn’t end up pursuing anyway.’

‘Fair point,’ Mike smirks at Vicky and me, knowing none of us three is actually working in the field in which we studied. I’ve definitely fluked my way on to the beauty desk.

‘Right?’ nods Scott.

‘So, it was the whole university of life thing?’ I say.

‘I guess. Felt more appealing.’

‘How’d you end up here doing this?’ asks Vicky. ‘Because I’m assuming you’re older than twenty-one, right?’

‘I look like I might not be?’

‘It’s hard to tell with all that hair,’ she jibes.

‘All right, Mum,’ he says, taking his cap off and shaking his mane out.

I look to Vicky and see her cheeks have pinkened at his remark.

‘I’m twenty-six,’ he admits. ‘I did three years’ travelling, earning as I went, then went back to find all my mates had jobs and proper responsibilities and thought “nah”. It wasn’t for me. Not yet.’

‘And you thought you weren’t running away from anything?’ I laugh.

‘Are they intimidating you yet? They really like to get stuck in there with their interrogations,’ Mike says to Scott, his fingers turning into claws while gesturing at me and Vicky.

‘You’re good. Although I am going to call it a night,’ he says, suddenly standing up and moving a black kettle so that it’s placed between the three of us. ‘Grab a coca tea before bed.’

We do as he says, filling our mugs before stepping out of the dining tent.

I take a gulp before resting my mug back on the table.

‘Did you just drink that without screwing up your face?’ Vicky laughs.

‘You’ve changed,’ Mike joins in.

‘I have, haven’t I?’ I nod. ‘This is a whole new me.’

‘You’ll be moving to the country to live on a farm before we know it,’ smirks Mike.

‘Didn’t realize coca tea and farm life were so linked, but I’ll take it,’ I say.

‘Come on,’ Vicky says, grabbing her mug and stepping out of the tent.

‘It’s flipping freezing!’ I say as soon as we’re outside, pulling my puffer jacket around me just as my shoulders creep up to below my ears. ‘That’s some bloody temperature drop.’

‘Look up,’ says Mike, shushing me.

‘Wooooah …’ whispers Vicky.