There is a pause. A gaggle of teenagers push past, mid heated discussion about Kanye West; a toddler wails, hands up in the air, and is scooped up into his dad’s arms. ‘Jingle Bells’ blares out from a boutique selling handbags a few paces ahead of them. The absence of an invitation to this amazing New Year’s Eve party is deafening, louder than all of these things, and Siobhan smiles wryly down at her feet. A useful reminder not to get too carried away. After all, they’re just friends.
