Inevitably, she was staring at the door when he arrived, ten minutes late and casually handsome in dark jeans, a grey hoodie and a denim jacket, hair swept from his brow. And she was furious that it looked like she’d been waiting – even though, of course, she was waiting, because he was late. He was intercepted by a waiter but had already spotted her, a broad, open smile on his face.

‘Hey!’ He pointed towards her and the waiter waved him past.

‘Hey!’ Alexa wondered whether to stand up, but he was over in two strides and stretching across the table to give her a kiss on the cheek. He smelled of peach and shaving foam, and placed his hand on her back as he leaned in. It was a practised move, and it worked: her stomach swooped. And then he pulled away, shrugged off his denim jacket and slung it across the chair as he sat down, resting both arms on the table, beaming his wide smile.

‘Started already, then?’ He pointed at her glass of wine, his eyes and mouth teasing.

‘You were late,’ she said, primly. ‘And it’s Friday.’ She smiled shyly at him through her eyelashes.

‘Cheers to that.’ He raised his eyebrows at a nearby waiter, who slunk over, gripping a white pad and pen. Pointing at her glass, he asked, ‘What you drinking?’

‘Oh, um, Verdicchio?’

‘That’ll do. Shall we get a bottle?’

‘Sounds perfect.’

‘Bottle of Verdicchio,’ repeated the waiter, in a monotone. He sighed and summoned the energy to make eye contact. ‘And are you ready to order food?’

Alexa hadn’t opened the menu, but Ben looked at her expectantly.

‘Are we?’

Anxious not to hold up proceedings, Alexa glanced at the menu on the table in front of her. She barely took the words in.

‘I’ll have the aubergine parmigiana,’ she offered.

‘’Nduja for me, mate.’ A moment of inspiration. ‘Oh, and can we share some bocconcini?’ Ben looked at Alexa questioningly. She widened her eyes in agreement. ‘Cheers.’

The laconic waiter turned on his heel.

‘Sorry, did I rush you? I still know the menu here back to front.’ He grinned. ‘Service has gone way downhill since I left, though.’

‘Sure.’ Alexa cocked an eyebrow.

He laughed. ‘Seriously, I was waiter of the month every month when I worked here.’

She made a sceptical noise.

‘Well, I always got the most tips. Same difference.’

She rolled her eyes in amusement. He was watching her face now. She smiled shyly again and wished she’d remembered to brush her teeth.

‘So how was your day?’ she asked, brightening.

He groaned. ‘Long. Work. Boss. Nightmare. You?’

‘Oh – fine. I mean, all of the above, but fine.’

They exchanged sympathetic grimaces and then the waiter appeared with the Verdicchio and Ben’s glass. With no ceremony, he plonked both on the table and departed.

‘Seriously, did something happen between you two before I arrived?’

She giggled.