"You in?" His voice called up the stairs.

"Office." She shouted back. "Be down in a tick."

"I'll come up."

He kissed the top of her head. She leant back in her chair and smiled at him.

"I lost track of time, no dinner sorry."

"Oh, for fuck's sake not again."

"Sorry. I said sorry. I just got going and didn't realise it was so late."

"Well, you can go for the bloody takeaway this time. No, in fact, don't bother, I'm going down the pub."

"Justin, don't. You've been out every night this week. I can cook now, won't take a minute to knock something up."

"You spend every night up here anyway, so what's the difference, at least at the pub people talk to me."

"I've nearly finished it, you know how important it is to me. I think it's good, I'm sure I can get it published."

"What like the last one?" He sneered the words at her.

"On second thoughts go to the pub, and you can go to the pub tomorrow as well because I won't be here. I've arranged to go out with Dee. I'll be back late so don't wait up."

"Fine."

Louise waited for the front door to slam. She wished the party was tonight. She wished she hadn't met Justin on the rebound. She wished she hadn't moved in with him so quickly after her divorce. She wished.