“Yes,” Flora said. “I love all the vegetables that go on pizza, but I can’t exactly ask them to place them in a certain way, so I just get tomato. It’s easier, but I prefer to make my own at home. That way I can put the vegetables on in the correct order.”

Mack smiled. “I didn’t know there was a correct order?”

“Oh yes, in my goofy head, anyway. It’s mostly by colour, type, and size.”

“That’s good to know. Maybe you could make me a meat one and come up with an order?”

“I’d love to.”

Mack plopped her slice into the dip she had and ate with gusto. Flora liked to watch her just enjoy eating so much. She nibbled her slice like the little mouse Mack called her.

“This is nice,” Flora said. “To me it’s nice, anyway. Probably to you staying in with pizzas and watching TV is boring.”

Mack shook her head. “You seem to think I’m some sort of party animal. I’m not. Maybe when I was young, but after the first experience of drinking, I kept sober, and going to the pub was just about meeting friends or dealing with business.”

“You really don’t mind?”

“Flo, I’ve just spent a year and a half in prison. I used to dream of quiet nights in with Dex and someone I loved, but I came out and the reality hit that my flat was big and empty. If I didn’t have Dex, I would be going mad. This is what I want.”

“Have you not had lots of girlfriends before?” Flora was sure she’d had lots of them and was worried about the answer.

“Not like you think. Friends that were girls? Yeah, but apart from that, only people I met—”

“For sex?”

“Well, aye, but that’s not what I wanted deep down, but you know about my family. We’re not always above board in some areas, and I couldn’t trust that Sharkey knowledge with any woman I met. Look what happened when my dad was let into the family.”

“But you told me,” Flora said.

Mack put down her slice of pizza and wiped her hands and mouth. “I trusted you—why would I not? The history we share builds a bond. I feel it in here.” Mack put her hand on her heart. “In here I knew you when I saw you, somehow. I know that sounds stupid, but all the time I was in jail I kept thinking about you, wondering who you were, if you were okay. You left a bit of yourself in my heart.”