‘I want to tell you,’ Thomas said, ‘that you being here has been the highlight of this tour for me. I told you the road was home for me as much as anywhere else, but … I have a great time with you. Have had a great time, but also: I always do.’

Penny smiled. ‘I like our little adventures as well. I like how you show me things. Places.’

Thomas leaned in for a kiss.

‘Shall we keep doing it?’ Thomas said. ‘Adventures? Unofficially official?’

She considered it. If they were unofficially official, and Thomas was never going to expect her to be monogamous because he’d never be monogamous himself, she could have these exciting adventures with him, and back at the pub keep having mind-blowing sex with Priyesh. It was quite the arrangement. Did that make her non-monogamous herself? She’d have to talk to Sharon about it. She’d never had more than one man on the go before.

‘Yes,’ Penny replied. ‘Let’s keep doing it. Unofficially official.’

She thought about what Stuart had said about her being greedy. But who said a woman couldn’t have it all? She headed back to the pub feeling like the cat who’d got the cream.

Francesco stirred his sauce on the hob as Charlie put their head around the corner of the kitchen and said, ‘That’s us done. See you tomorrow.’

‘See you tomorrow,’ Penny said, waving. ‘Thanks again for holding down the fort this week!’

‘No worries, Pen. I’m glad you had a good time.’ Charlie’s statement was loaded. They knew exactly what Penny had been up to.

‘Bye, bitch!’ Francesco said to them in a funny voice.

‘Bye, bitch!’ Charlie repeated, laughing.

‘I don’t get it. What even is that?’ Penny asked as Francesco scooped up his spoon and told her to taste what he was making. His face was encouraging, clearly expecting only compliments.

‘Good, huh?’ he said. ‘I love this time of year for meat.’

‘What pasta are we having with it?’ Penny asked, watching Francesco as he tilted his head upwards, as if coming up to the thought.

‘Fettuccini, I think,’ he replied. ‘This one would be good with the fettuccini.’

Penny went to the dry store to locate it, returning triumphant and doing a little dance of celebration.

‘You’ve been like this all day,’ Francesco said. ‘Walking on a Lizzo high.’

‘I had a great time,’ said Penny. ‘Lizzo was amazing, and I got to hang out in the city a bit, and Thomas was on form, too.’

‘He’s the one who gave you the tickets?’

‘Yes.’