Paul is a deeply unlikeable Northern cynic who has never been good with people or words. Lucy is a sweet yet neurotic academic with dreams of becoming a barrister. Living together in London, far from family and friends, they grapple with the challenges of modern life while their new elitist friends look on. They have nothing in common, and everyone wonders: what on earth are these two doing together? This is a new idea I had to use as a palate cleanser as I reach milestones with my main book. Contemporary fiction and satire aren’t my usual genres, but I’ve felt a bit of a tug lately, urging me to give it a go and see what people think. I’m not sure where this story is headed or how much time I’ll dedicate to it, but if you enjoy this first chapter or anything that follows, please do let me know. If there’s an audience for this, I’ll write it for them.