‘I still can’t believe it. I keep going to text him and then I realise.’ He lowers his head, stares at the table.

‘How’s Nikki?’ Sienna asks.

He looks up again. ‘We’re… she’s fine.’

Sienna already knows from Marty that Reuben and Nikki are no longer together; it was inevitable, and perfect timing for what Sienna has to do now. She places her hand on his. ‘It’s okay. Reuben. I know. You can talk to me, you know.’ It sickens her that she has to do this; but she feels how she used to, putting on this act. It’s what she always did – playing a part – although never quite in this way.

He smiles. He’s playing right into her hands. ‘You’ll have no trouble finding someone else,’ she assures him, turning back to her tonic water. She takes a long sip.

‘Watch it now – we wouldn’t want you to get drunk, would we?’

She throws her head back and laughs. ‘Let’s go and sit somewhere more comfortable,’ she says, pointing to the back of the bar, where padded leather sofas line the wall.

He watches her while they walk over. She can feel his eyes heavy on her, gluttonous. ‘I have to say I’m surprised that you seem so… well, able to come out and enjoy a drink.’

‘Greg was cheating on me,’ she lies. ‘So, sod it. I’ve done my grieving.’

Reuben’s eyes widen. ‘No. Are you sure?’

She nods, allowing her silence to tell him what he wants to hear.

‘It wasn’t with Nikki, was it? That wouldn’t surprise me. The way she used to fawn over him.’

‘She did, didn’t she? But no, it wasn’t with Nikki.’

‘Not that it matters,’ Reuben says. ‘Our marriage is well and truly over. I’m not going back. No way.’

‘What happened, Rueben? You’ve only been married a couple of years.’ Not much longer than she and Greg. Still, it’s better to know sooner rather than later.

‘I always make the same mistake with women. And live to regret it. I seem to attract these… women who just want whatever they can get from me.’

She holds up her glass; she doesn’t want him dwelling on any of this. Reuben will do it again soon enough, she has no doubt about that – he’s a doctor, there’ll be no shortage of women willing to become his third wife.

‘You just need to enjoy yourself and not think about settling down,’ she says, sliding closer to him so that their thighs are touching. A wave of nausea floods through her.

‘You’re right,’ he says, leaning his head closer to hers.