‘No, Penny,’ he said, plainly. ‘We didn’t screw this up – you did. You were right: you’re too broken for me to fix, and I’m not a good enough man to be a pick-me-up who doubles as a toy.’

Penny was shocked by the level of his anger. His words came out strong and practised, like he’d rehearsed them in his head and designed them for maximum impact.

‘You are selfish, and uncomprehending of the games you play with grown men’s emotions,’ he continued. ‘I said I loved you, but now I have thought about it I don’t know if I could love somebody who would be so cruel. So thoughtless. You are an animal, trapped in her own pain, lashing out at anybody who dares come close enough to show you some kindness. I say this because I care, and because as soon as I have finished talking I will not care any longer. Get help. Go to therapy. Sort your head out. Because you will never find true contentment until you do, okay? This victim routine you have is mind-numbing. It’s time to grow up. It really, really is.’

Penny felt like she’d been slapped. Francesco was talking as though he hated her.

‘On second thoughts,’ he said, untying his apron. ‘I hereby retract giving you two weeks’ notice. You can stick your job up your arse.’ He tugged the apron over his head and handed it to Penny. ‘All the best.’

And then he walked away.

Penny stood shaking in humiliation. She knew she should go after him. She knew she should beg him to listen to her, to let her explain how she felt, to tell him she did trust him, actually, or she could, if he helped her, but the truth was that she had no idea what she felt. Who was this person she’d become? She’d strayed so far from who she thought she was that it was almost as if Francesco was right: she didn’t deserve his love.

And so she didn’t deserve to chase after him, either.

‘I couldn’t do it,’ she told Sharon over the phone. ‘I just froze. I’m an idiot.’

Sharon tutted at the other end of the line, kindly. ‘You’re not an idiot, darling, I promise you. This isn’t anybody’s fault. Maybe he won’t even go?’

Penny sniffled and reached for a tissue. ‘I think he already has,’ she said. ‘Charlie saw him packing up his car.’

‘Oh.’

‘Yeah. Oh.’

‘Well, you don’t have to do anything just now, okay? If you’re hurt, be hurt. If you don’t know what to do next, don’t do anything for a moment. None of us is fucking up like we think we are, okay? So just be. I’m here if you need me, okay?’

‘Okay,’ said Penny. ‘Thank you.’

‘I love you.’