The fact that he wanted her to say yes made her belly burst with butterflies. She told herself she had no right to be even slightly elated. ‘Won’t Sophie be wondering where you are?’

Oliver shook his head. ‘She’s at her mum’s place doing wedding stuff. She won’t be home for hours.’ Oliver moved off to the bar before she had a chance to question it.

She realised she was having a drink with a man whose fiancée was busily arranging their wedding. What was wrong with her? But she dismissed the thought when Oliver returned with a vodka raspberry, her drink of choice when she was eighteen. Bonnie immediately smiled. ‘I haven’t had one of these in years.’ She was slammed with memories of wearing high heels and small dresses, dancing for hours and not knowing when she’d had enough to drink.

‘For old times’ sake.’ Oliver lifted his drink to her.

She clinked glasses with him and brought the glass to her mouth. She recoiled at the strong sugary liquid. ‘That is awful!’ she laughed. ‘How did I ever drink these?’

Oliver took another sip of his. ‘I don’t mind it. I actually think it’s gotten better with time.’ He reminded her of a night when they’d shared a bottle of bourbon then passed out and missed her curfew. This led to talk of a night she’d drunk so much she threw up all over herself. Oliver had snuck into her house to get a change of clothes so her parents wouldn’t know. There was even a brief mention of the night Carla had caught them having sex in the shower. They both became a little self-conscious, Bonnie giggling nervously like she would have done when she was seventeen. Without even realising it, she’d finished her drink and was up at the bar buying the next round.

‘So, kids?’ Bonnie said after another drink. ‘Why did you and Amy never have any?’ They were talking more freely now, the alcohol blurring the line between friends and exes.

He went quiet, his face changing like she’d winded him.

‘Sorry.’ She shook her head. ‘It’s none of my business.’

‘It’s fine.’ But he drained the rest of his drink before answering. ‘She didn’t want them. I did. Twelve years later, we’re divorced.’

Bonnie was sure she could hear Ollie’s bruised heart thud to the ground. ‘Oh, Ollie. I’m sorry.’

‘The last few years were pretty rough. I kept trying to change her mind and she resented me for it. Before long every part of our relationship was falling apart. We were so angry with each other for not wanting what the other wanted.’