She smiled up at him. ‘I get it now,’ she said. She pulled out her phone again to snap a photo. She sent it to the family WhatsApp with the note I can give your views a run for their money! and then sent it to Sharon, too, with the message, I may have just snogged a guy I went to school with, with this as the backdrop …

‘And that white building there,’ Thomas said, pointing towards the village up ahead. ‘That’s where the chips are.’

‘Chips!’ Penny exclaimed, high on endorphins and the view and the promise of proper fuel. She threw her arms up as she said it and, as she brought them back down, she aimed them for Thomas’s shoulders. ‘But before that,’ she said, melting into him again. ‘Another incentive, please, if you don’t mind …’

13

‘I did it. I texted Francesco.’

Charlie issued a whistle. ‘He’s got his name back,’ they observed, as they closed down the bar for the night.

‘And I snogged Thomas yesterday.’ Penny acted shy about saying it, but she didn’t truly feel it. It had been a nice day with him, and she felt more like her old self today than she had done in ages.

‘Shocker,’ replied Charlie.

‘What?!’ said Penny. ‘How can you think you knew that was going to happen when I didn’t even know it was going to happen?’

Charlie pulled a face. ‘You knew it was going to happen,’ they said.

Penny pretended to think about it, her eyes moving shiftily to one side. ‘Yeah,’ she admitted. ‘I did.’

They grinned at each other. ‘You’ll see him again?’

She nodded. ‘I will,’ Penny replied. ‘He’s good company. Good chat. And it gets me out and about, doesn’t it?’

‘I suspect the next out and about you have will actually be more in and out, if you get what I mean …’

‘Gross!’ said Penny, laughing in spite of herself. ‘Why would you say that!’

Charlie laughed too. ‘I’m not wrong though, am I?’

Penny didn’t answer. ‘I guess I’m ready to move on,’ she settled on, knowing she really was ready to talk to Francesco, too. Her phone buzzed.

Update at my end, a text from Sharon said: My love life is very boring because: married, so I miss hearing about yours! Tell me everything about this man you used to go to school with …! Xxx

‘By the by, I meant to say: Priyesh came by again today. The wine merchant. He said it was to confirm that he is coming to the party, but he seemed quite annoyed you weren’t here.’

‘I suppose that’s what we get for inviting him,’ Penny groaned.

‘What exactly happened that day in the summer? It’s like he can’t wait to see you again. Did you flirt with him? Because he might even fancy you.’