Penny shook her head. ‘Francesco isn’t like that,’ she contended, picking up her phone and unlocking it anyway. ‘He’s not a caveman.’

‘Darling,’ Sharon insisted, wandering over to check on her daughter. ‘When it comes to s-e-x, they’re all cavemen.’

Penny opened the text thread between her and Francesco right as a new message appeared on her screen from him. It said: So, last night was …

Penny smiled. Yeah, she replied, instantly, adding, (So weird! Just picked up my phone to message you as you messaged me!)

It makes no sense, Francesco texted back. We should be on fire! Like so, so hot. (Great minds think alike!)

‘Do you want to stay for dinner?’ Sharon asked. ‘It’s shepherd’s pie.’

‘Sure,’ said Penny. ‘Sorry to be rude – he’s texting me right now.’

‘Oh, what’s he saying?’

‘He’s a bit confused as well, I think.’

Penny typed: Maybe we’d put too much pressure on it?

His reply came: Well it’s not like we planned it to happen then, did we? I mean, you weren’t expecting me, and I was genuinely only stopping by for the food …

True. Penny responded. Although I’d definitely been thinking about it …

Oh really???

She smiled. She had thought about it. She kept a small vibrator in her bedside table and had used it more than once before bed as she thought about it. Penny had wanted him since they met. Since she’d watched him unload bread from the van. She replied provocatively with three dots.

Okay, I’d thought about it too, Francesco texted. A lot. I’d even … you know … THOUGHT ABOUT IT.

Well, at least they’d both had good sex in their minds, Penny reasoned. She responded:

So we should try it again, he replied. Right?

‘He’s asking if we should try again,’ Penny called over to Sharon. ‘And that’s what I want, right? A second go-around?’

‘You tell me,’ said Sharon, fishing about in the freezer.

For sure! Yes! OMG yes. I would like that very much, Penny typed back. She wanted to sound enthusiastic in case what Sharon had said about the male ego thing was true, even for him.

‘Yes,’ Penny said out loud.

Okay, well, good talk, came the reply.

GREAT talk, said Penny.

I’ve got service now, but I’ll speak to you later?

Yes, said Penny. Speak to you later xxxxx

‘Do you know what?’ said Sharon, reappearing from her freezer. ‘I don’t actually fancy the pie. Shall I order pizza instead?’

‘You’ve got something wholesome and good for you right within reach, and you want what isn’t?’ Penny said.

Sharon shrugged, smiling.

‘Okay, pizza,’ said Penny.