Penny was standing by the revolving door, looking at her phone. She was wearing tight, dark jeans and a grey, long-sleeved sweater with a V-neck. A pendant glittered at the base of her throat. James imagined what it would feel like to kiss her neck.

She saw him and smiled and they walked out of the revolving door. Outside, James tilted his face to the sky, enjoying the warmth of the sun.

‘Happy Friday,’ she said. He noticed her eyes were puffy and red. ‘You have plans for the weekend?’

He shrugged. ‘Pub with Carl tonight, probably. Then I’m not sure. The usual. Hanging around. You and Bryn doing anything fun?’

Her eyes caught his. ‘Not this weekend. We split up.’

‘What? What happened?’

‘It’s been coming for a while.’

‘Really? I thought you guys had been together for ages?’

She nodded. ‘We have. That’s part of the problem. Bryn’s a lovely guy, but he’s – he’s a bit clingy. He wants to settle down. Have kids. His parents were married at nineteen so twenty-three for him is high time to tie the knot, but I’m not ready. Not even close.’

‘You don’t have to split up. You could agree to wait.’

‘That’s the problem. The more we talked about marriage and kids, the more I realized I couldn’t picture it. I couldn’t see us as parents together. When I tried, it felt wrong. I’ve been thinking of breaking up with him for the last six months. Last night he brought it up again and I kind of came out with it.’

‘What did you say?’

‘I said I didn’t want to marry him anytime soon. He said, well then, when? and I said I don’t think ever. He said in that case let’s break up for good. I think he was calling my bluff, but I agreed. And that was that. It was a rough night.’

‘I’ll bet.’

‘He slept on the couch, but our flat is tiny and you can hear everything. I was up all night listening to him crying. I was glad when he left for work. He went early, at like five a.m. I felt awful.’

‘Sorry to hear it.’

‘Don’t be. It’s for the best.’

They reached the burrito van. James looked at the menu; Penny didn’t bother.

‘Could I have a beef burrito?’ she said. ‘Extra chilli.’

‘You got it, love,’ the man said. ‘And you, mate?’

‘I’ll have the same,’ James said. They waited for their food and walked to a bench.

‘Where are you going to live?’ he said. ‘Will you move out?’