‘I try not to let myself think about that,’ Penny said. ‘Because I miss it. I thought I’d at least get Christmas there, but I celebrated here and in Cornwall didn’t I so yes, it will be my first trip back. I’m going to see Lizzo, get a coffee at Ozone, go to Arket in Covent Garden to maybe buy some new trousers …’

‘Your version of heaven, then,’ Francesco said.

‘Yup!’

‘Well please eat a bagel from Zobbler’s in my honour, okay? Oooooh, and maybe have an Old Fashioned in The Standard. You can’t get drinks like theirs up here. Or anywhere, really.’

Penny looked at him at the mention of the hotel they’d stayed the night at together, but Francesco already had his head in the fridge. It was obviously only her who had memories of their romance. Although, by now they’d been friends for about four times as long as they’d ever been romantically involved, so maybe he really didn’t remember their romantic dalliance. It occurred to her that she was foolish for even lingering on the thought.

‘Okay,’ she said, fishing out her phone again. ‘Let me give Stuart the good news.’ She put a hand on Francesco’s shoulder and said, ‘Really. Thank you.’

Francesco put his hand over hers and replied, ‘Penny. Anything for you.’

‘So,’ Stuart said as they descended the escalator to get on the Jubilee line to The O2 Arena. ‘Francesco is there day in and day out. Francesco with the hair and the eyes and the sex toys Francesco?’

‘Honestly, we are so far beyond that,’ Penny said. ‘He’s like my brother now, or something. It’s not like that. We’re best mates. And I’m his boss. He needed a job and a change of scenery and I need the help for the Bib Gourmand, so it’s changed all the rules.’

‘You’re friends, but he’s pissed off about you shagging the wine merchant?’

‘Only in a protective way,’ Penny reasoned. ‘I’m protective over him, too. Like I’m protective over you with Safiya – I’ll kill her if she hurts you.’

Stuart beamed. ‘Can you believe my luck?’ he asked. ‘Me, dating Safiya Abadi …’

‘I’m happy for you,’ Penny said. ‘She is very lucky to have you.’

‘Thank you. And wait – let’s not get distracted. Francesco. He’s watching the pub as you come down here to hang out with the tour manager that you are also shagging?’

Penny rolled her eyes. ‘I’m not shagging him now, am I? He’s been all over Europe with these tour dates.’

‘I’m just not buying it,’ said Stuart. ‘The second that man walked into the café the air changed. It was you, it was him, it was freshly baked bread. That doesn’t just go away.’