Alex walks beside him in comfortable silence. They're almost to the Underground station when he speaks, and she smiles back at him but waits until they're outside the station to respond so she can say goodbye as they part ways.

She's not sure whether she should shake his hand or kiss him in the cheek or hug him or what. She pauses awkwardly, trying to figure it out, before deciding on none of those things. She's not great at public displays of affection - platonic affection, she reminds herself forcefully - and shaking his hand would be too weirdly formal.

"Happy Valentine's Day," she responds, smiling up at him, "and thanks for the chocolate." She doesn't really want to leave it there, but she can't think of anything else to say, so she starts to head off on her own before quickly turning back. "You should tell me where you work. The box you gave me is pretty small, I might need a refill." She tries to sound as casual as possible, as though she couldn't possibly have any other reason for stopping by his chocolate shop than to buy chocolate.