‘Good point,’ Greta said, in a voice silenced to a whisper by what a good point it was. A few days ago, Greta and Peggy had had sex in the skirt Greta was wearing now. One of them pushed the skirt up and up – it was tight and took some effort, this was how they knew they really wanted to have sex, because the tight skirt gave plenty of opportunity for either of them to change their mind. Kissing and hitching the skirt up – it took coordination. It felt heated. It was like that sometimes and sometimes it was just a lazy fuck. Hardly any effort at all. Like taking part in a familiar task, diligently but with no great passion. They always knew exactly what they were doing, and when. Although it was hard to tell when it started, when it was finished, and when it was over.

‘Straight away?’ Peggy asked.

Dell nodded. ‘I think clothes should be washed straight away if you have sex in them.’

‘You shouldn’t wear them again,’ Greta said, like it was obvious. The skirt had ridden up a little bit – she pulled it down again.

‘But trousers you haven’t had sex in,’ Peggy said, ‘I reckon you can wear them a few times.’

Michael had worn the trousers he had on at least once before today. Unless the underwear somehow got in there from the washing machine. Peggy and Greta weren’t sure.