He really was interested, fascinated by this beautiful woman in her late twenties, maybe ten years younger than his late thirties. He found himself as enraptured with her as she was with him.

Their kiss, later, downstairs partly hidden beside a polished elevator, was by turns tender and urgent, and towards the end they were pressing themselves into each other, breathless. But he put her in a taxi, not wishing to risk breaking the spell by being too pushy. They each went home smiling.

Ava grabbed Alexander’s hand. The smoke from the barbecue rose, someone flipped the food over, and she whispered in his ear, “I can’t wait, follow me.” She made her way to the patio door, looking over her shoulder, swinging her hips more than necessary. Alexander realised the semi-erection, until then hidden by his shorts and by Ava, was in imminent danger of being seen so he dashed after her. She called out to no one in particular, “Back in a sec,” and took his hand again. They both knew everyone knew what they were doing.

He had one hand on her bare back, and he slid it down and under the edge of the dress’s dangerously low-back, fingers sliding into the crease of her bottom. She was hot, and perspiring, and his hand slid easily over her skin, downwards until he had the curve of her cupped in his hand, just able to sense with his finger as he stretched it downwards... Ava spun away. As his hand caught in her dress it pulled up its short skirt and he got a flash of perfection. So did the people dirty dancing immediately around them. He looked at the person next to him, her pupils wide, probing his eyes with hers. Her lips were parted, and she was breathing hard.

She opened her wardrobe and stared at the hangers, not really focusing. She didn’t even know where she was going to live.

Then, suddenly she was crying.

She sort of crumpled, collapsing slowly to the carpet and leant forward, face in her hands, as the tears fell. She allowed herself to let it all out, and she sobbed out loud. She didn’t want to leave him. She didn’t want it to end. She made a keening noise as she cried, her nose running and her hands wet. She sniffed and it brought her back into the room. She half smiled at herself as she realised what a mess she was. She sniffed again.