While he was in the larder collecting the mushrooms for Hope to take back to the house, the kettle started to whistle faintly, and Francis hurried to take it off the stove before it reached its shrillest note. He poured the water into the teapot, put the Ziploc bag next to the milk jug, picked up the tray and walked resolutely into the living room.

‘Oh, for God’s sake,’ he said, standing in the doorway, ‘put your clothes back on.’

‘What?’ said Hope. ‘It’s not like you haven’t seen me naked before.’

‘I’ve almost only seen you naked,’ said Francis, ‘that’s why it would be refreshing to talk to you when you were wearing something – other than that bracelet.’

‘I never take this off,’ said Hope.

‘How restrained of you,’ said Francis. ‘I wish you took the same approach to your underwear.’

‘It was given to me by the only man I ever loved,’ said Hope, sitting up and hugging her knees.

‘What happened to him?’ asked Francis, trying not to look at her and taking inordinately long to put the tray down on the table. ‘Did he catch a chill snowboarding in the nude?’

‘He drowned,’ said Hope.

‘Oh, okay, well, I’m sorry to hear that,’ said Francis, feeling unjustly caught out.

‘That’s why I’m making a fool of myself chasing after you,’ said Hope. ‘I’ve been feeling numb for the last four years – until we met.’

‘Oh, come on,’ said Francis, ‘you can’t do that.’

‘Do what? Tell the truth?’

‘No, put that on me.’

‘Don’t you find me attractive?’

‘Oh, fuck off. You know I do. That’s why you’ve got to go. I can’t believe you’re sitting there naked, fishing for compliments!’

Francis dropped the bag of mushrooms on the sofa in front of Hope.

‘I’m going to go upstairs and wait to hear the door close behind you.’

He leant over and kissed her on the forehead.

‘I’ll see you at Hunter’s party,’ said Hope.

‘Oh, Christ, are you going to that as well?’ said Francis.

‘I promise to behave,’ said Hope.

Francis gave her a final, despairing look and turned to leave the room.

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