‘I’m sorry.’ Now she spins around to face him. ‘You won’t believe that – or care – but I am. This isn’t how I wanted things to be.’

‘You know, I do believe you mean that. But it doesn’t matter. This isn’t about you, Abby. You need me to forgive you, don’t you? It will help you feel better about it all, won’t it?’

‘No, you’re wrong. I’m just telling you that I’m sorry, and I mean it. I’m sorry for dragging you into my life when I was emotionally tied to someone else.’

‘Mark.’ Rob grunts his name, and she wonders if he’s aware of how he sounds. ‘Childhood sweethearts,’ he continues. ‘How… beautiful.’ His tone is menacing, and it reminds her of the last time she saw Greg, how he seemed like a different person from the one she knew, however briefly.

‘How are your parents?’ she asks. He won’t be happy that she’s changing the topic.

‘Probably fine,’ he says. ‘I haven’t spoken to them for a few days now.’

‘But I thought you were staying with them?’

‘Nope. I found somewhere better to stay. Closer to work.’

‘Oh, that’s good.’

‘I’m staying at Sienna’s.’

Here it is again; no matter what, Sienna is everywhere, encroaching into every part of her life. Abby’s known she and Rob have forged a friendship, but she’s surprised that he’s moved in to her house. Surprised and disturbed. Sienna mentioned nothing when Abby saw her earlier, yet she had been the one to say she wanted them both to stop fighting.

‘How did that happen?’ she asks.

Rob snickers. ‘Just as you said earlier, that’s my business.’

It occurs to her that Rob could be lying; if she’s learned one thing it’s that nobody is immune to deceit. ‘You’re right,’ she says. ‘It’s none of my business what you do. In fact, I’m happy that you’re moving on. It’s what I want.’

Rob doesn’t reply; choosing instead to stand and walk over to her. ‘Do you know what the hardest part of all this is? It’s not that our marriage was a sham – at least on your part. It’s not even that you cheated on me. No, the worst part is that I got it so wrong. I got you so wrong.’ He slowly places his hand on her shoulder.

‘I know,’ she says.

‘No, you don’t. I’m not talking about Mark. I’m talking about Greg.’

Abby feels sick hearing his name. ‘What about him?’