Adam didn’t answer at first, just looked straight ahead. Then he turned to her. ‘Ever wonder if you made a mistake?’

She looked at him in surprise.

‘You have all these big ideas,’ he said, ‘these ambitions. But the reality isn’t quite the same.’

‘What is it? The company?’

‘Yeah.’

‘Leave?’

‘Bit difficult. This flat. It’s got a big mortgage.’

Becky was wide-eyed. ‘You own it?’

‘Well, no, the bank does. But, yes, I bought. Lucky, eh? How many twenty-one-year-olds can afford their own home?’

‘Not many.’

‘Exactly . . . My parents advised me to get on the property ladder. They put down the deposit but now I’m paying twelve hundred a month. I can’t leave my job, I need the money. And I don’t want to let them down.’

He looked so downhearted that she leaned over and put her arm around his shoulders.

‘Hey, don’t listen to me,’ he said. ‘I’m just whinging. Like you say, I’m one of the lucky ones.’

It would’ve been the moment to take her arm away, but it felt nice there, so she didn’t. ‘I know what you mean,’ she said, ‘about not letting them down. Mum brought me up alone. Went without so I could have stuff. This job I’m going for . . . I feel like I really need to get it. Show her it’s all been worthwhile.’

‘You will,’ said Adam firmly and he was looking at her with such intensity, such belief, that she leaned in and kissed him.

He was so surprised, she began to think it had been a bad idea, but then he put both their glasses on the walnut side table cum magazine rack and kissed her back. Before long, they were pulling at each other’s clothes on the mocha rug and, for a brief moment, Becky worried it was still new (and not what his mother had intended) and was she really doing this, and wouldn’t it complicate things, but she didn’t stop.

Afterwards they lay there in each other’s arms, the light from the fire flickering on their bodies, and she listened to his heart beating.

‘Adam?’

‘Yes?’

‘Why do you want to leave?’

He was quiet for so long she thought she’d annoyed him with her question.

‘I’m not so keen on their ethics.’

She spoke softly. ‘In what way?’

Another long pause. ‘I can’t say.’

They were jolted apart by a loud buzzer sound. ‘Your taxi,’ said Adam and he went to the intercom and spoke to the driver. ‘She’ll be down in a minute.’

Becky considered cancelling, continuing with the conversation, but the mood had been broken and she suddenly felt awkward in her nakedness. They both hastily pulled on clothes, and then it was time to say goodbye.

‘I had a great night,’ said Becky.

‘Me too.’

They stood there, smiling self-consciously at each other, then the buzzer went again, making them jump.

‘Want to do it again?’ said Adam quickly.

‘That would be great.’

He held her hand down the stairs and kissed her before she ran out into the sleet.