James says, “Shall I stay, then?”
“No,” says Viv. “Can I call if I need anything?”
“Of course.”
“Thank you.” He’s half closed the door behind him when she says, “James.”
He turns and peers at her through the doorway.
“We never. . ” she says. “We didn’t really talk about you.”
“Another conversation,” he says, sounding falsely chipper because James never is truly chipper, one of the things that he and Zan always have had in common. “For another time.”
“Let’s make sure to have it.”
“Right,” he says, but both know they won’t, before it’s too late.