A few weeks pass before Lewis gets round to celebrating graduation with her. She was excited in the morning when she received his text message and invite for lunch. But now, as she sits in a high street chain, famed for a food she doesn’t even eat, she feels annoyed.

He walks over to the table, and shares out the cutlery and napkins. ‘What?’ he asks. ‘Is something wrong?’

‘I feel like I’ve hardly seen you recently.’

‘It’s been busy, for both of us. It’s a good thing it means we’re both working hard.’

It’s true that they shared a kind of satisfaction in being busy, in her coming up to the flat he shared with his brother after a long day working.

‘You’re still upset about the cinema last week?’ he asks. ‘I’ll ask the DVD guy to get it.’

‘No, I just wish you would let me know in advance. At least then, I could make other plans.’ And stop keeping her evenings free on the off chance he’s going to be around.

He places his hand on her knee under the table, ‘You’re right and I’m sorry. I’ll make it up to you. You staying over tonight?’

She tries to hide her smile, ‘Maybe.’

‘Maybe,’ he mimics her laughing. ‘Though, I’ll need to call you when I’m on my way back. Got to meet some guys in central first; they’re really interested in the T-shirts, think this could be it Yvie. They seem really keen and they’ve got money too.’

‘I took a day off work to come and spend time with you.’

‘Yeah and we are spending time. But I’m talking about later.’

‘When?’

‘About four this afternoon.’

Maybe this is how it’s always going to be with him, she’s so low down his list. She shakes her head, frustrated with herself for jumping ahead and imagining that she’d have the whole day with him.

‘I can’t get it right with you, can I?’ he says.

‘I can’t believe you think you’re trying. Or do I need to learn to be grateful for whatever I get? Some days, not even a text message.’

‘I’m sorry I forgot your graduation. I can’t keep saying it.’

‘Actually, that’s the first time you’ve said it.’

He takes his hand from her knee and looks around the restaurant as if seeking an escape. ‘I’m trying to juggle so many different things here. Work. My mum. Give me a break.’

She’s pushing him away. Why? Because his business is doing well? Because his mum has sickle cell? ‘Sorry. I didn’t mean to snap at you.’

‘No. I deserve it. I can’t expect you to sit around waiting for me all the time.’

But he never really asks her to, she just does it. Can she really blame him?