‘No, as someone who wants to come and enjoy herself for a night. I can take a date if you would feel better about it.’ He frowns at me as he says it, and I get that inner aching pang that springs a quick answer.

‘Yeah, I think not. I’m not playing the third wheel to you and some rancid doe-eyed plaything.’ The thought of enduring him with some hoe draped all over him makes me feel physically sick.

‘Do you want to come or not?’ Alexi is getting irritated, and as ...