“Are you leaving too?” Lea asks when Alastair turns back to face her and Oliver. Alastair ignores her mockingly hopeful tone.

“Yes actually,” he begins. “We all might want to spend a few days away from here in case my parents have something nasty planned. Not to mention, my lie to him will read better if the place looks abandoned.”

Alastair pauses then continues.

“Not for the whole two weeks, but I’ll tell my father I shut you down and ...