Gary did his best to make amends. ‘Yes. Sure. Didn’t expect to see you here. Sarah’s from…Sarah’s a friend. We just thought we’d try it out. New place and all that.’

‘Yes. Right. Well, enjoy your evening.’ Tiger nodded, hesitated, smiled apologetically and then made his way back across the restaurant. He sat down opposite Erica and picked up his napkin. ‘That was a bit frosty.’

‘I’m not surprised.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘Here’s Gary, come for a romantic night out à deux, and one of his beer-drinking dominoes partners lurches over and introduces himself. It’s hardly surprising he doesn’t welcome you with open arms.’

‘I didn’t lurch over.’

‘You know what I mean.’ Erica glanced in Gary’s direction. ‘Anyway, she does look rather nice. Very classy.’

‘Yes,’ said Tiger wistfully. ‘I was never sure whether he was bullshitting us with all this talk about his sex life. Perhaps it wasn’t made up after all.’

‘A meal in a restaurant with a pretty girl doesn’t necessarily mean he’s…you know…’

Tiger grinned at her. ‘No?’

‘No!’

‘Sorry about that.’ Gary filled Sarah in on the identity of their visitor and explained that they had known each other for a few years. Did a bit of sport together. He didn’t say what. Then he changed the subject. ‘Looks a cut above your usual Chinese take-away.’

‘Yes. Very smart,’ confirmed Sarah.

‘And better than a cup of tea down the canteen,’ offered Gary. He looked across at her; beautiful and shining in her cream sweater and black trousers. But there was something not quite right. She was preoccupied. Not her usual bouncy self.

‘Are you all right?’ he asked, as the waitress retreated having brought the wine.

‘Yes, fine,’ she answered, avoiding his eye.

‘No you’re not. I know when you’re not right. I’ve worked with you long enough. What’s wrong?’

Sarah shook her head and turned away, and he saw her eyes fill with tears. He had never seen her cry before.

‘Is it me? Is it something I’ve said?’

She shook her head again and tried to smile. ‘No, it’s not you. It’s just…oh…things. That’s all.’

He offered her a napkin, and she dabbed at her tears. ‘Silly. Not worth it.’ She sniffed and brightened quite suddenly, but falsely.

‘Is it Max?’

Sarah nodded, and turned away again. Then she said, ‘Told me last night. Someone else. Not me any more.’

Gary felt genuinely sorry for a moment or two. He murmured sympathetic platitudes of the ‘better off without him’ variety, and did his best not to be too hard in his criticism of a man who clearly did not know a goddess when she came up and bit him.

He tried to jolly her out of it, and she seemed to respond. ‘Are you hungry?’ he asked.