He felt confident. He waited for her to say something as he stuck his thumb into his belt and grinned. Ruby squinted out at Steven through the half-light, her expression a mixture of impatience and exhaustion. ‘Oh God.’ His expression sank from cheerful to jowlful. ‘I’m pleased to see you too,’ he said. He watched as she pushed her hand through her hair. He thought, She’s still wearing too much make-up and her skirt is too tight. Paradoxically, these familiar flaws made him feel inexplicably fond. ‘Can I come in?’ ‘Um.’ She thought about this for a moment. ‘Why don’t we go out for a drink? I can run up and fetch my coat.’ ‘And put some shoes on.’ He pointed to her stockinged feet. ‘Yeah.’ She turned. ‘Wait here.’ He ignored this and followed her, up the stairs and into her flat. Her jacket was slung over the arm of a chair. She grabbed it and frantically looked around for her shoes. He stood in the doorway and appraised the room, wondering what it could be that she was so keen to conceal.
