The following Saturday Francesca convinced Bryan to accompany her to a party.
“You’ll have fun,” she said. “Come on. Live a little.”
Bryan reluctantly agreed. He’d never been invited to parties as a teen and going to them as a young adult filled him with anxiety and, occasionally, dread.
The housewarming party was in the suburb where Bryan lived. Three of Francesca’s closest friends had moved in together with their accompanying lovers and partners. The house was on a large block, though the backyard was unattractive to say the least. The lawn was patchy and the one tree looked close to death. There was no garden and only faded plastic outdoor furniture to sit on. Nevertheless, there was enough space for the occupants to have set up a temporary dance floor, a table where a DJ friend was
