‘I still feel guilty about that, too,’ she replied, trying to keep her voice light. At least that was true. She had felt guilty then, and every single day since. But she was here now. And she was finally going to make it right. She had given him every single chance to confess to what he had done, and he had chosen not to.

She took a gulp from her glass of wine. This was for Zadie. It didn’t matter if it was shameful, or embarrassing. For Zadie. For Zadie. For Zadie. ‘But I think about it a lot,’ she said. ‘When I’m alone.’

Max looked at her and a smug smile stole across his face. She had his interest now.

‘What’s Verity like in bed?’ she asked.

‘Coco, I’m shocked,’ said Max, sounding anything but. This was just the kind of pseudo-forbidden conversation he had always liked.

‘So?’

‘I’m not going to tell you that.’

‘I’ll tell you what Rav’s like if you tell me what Verity is like.’

Max put his arm along the back of the seat, just above Chloe’s shoulders. She could feel the warmth radiating through his linen shirt.

‘Verity is …’ He hesitated. ‘Innocent. She’d only ever slept with one boyfriend before me. She’s a little mouse. Badly wants to be good at it, but not much technique. And not a huge amount of enthusiasm for the actual deed, if I’m honest.’ He paused. ‘How honest are we being?’

‘Brutally.’

‘I don’t think she’s ever had an orgasm.’

‘I think that’s more about you than it is about her, to be fair.’

‘I’ve never had any other complaints in that department, thanks very much. Go on, then. Your turn.’

Chloe thought about it for a moment. She knew what Max would want to hear, what would make him want to prove himself. ‘Rav’s … sweet.’

Max laughed. ‘Oh dear. That bad?’

‘Not bad, just … Not very adventurous, I suppose. I’ve asked him to be a bit more … no holds barred. But he can’t seem to manage it.’

‘He can’t manage it?’ Max smiled, eyebrows raised.

‘No, no, he can do that part. But anything more exotic than “love-making” seems to freak him out. I’d occasionally like him to be a bit more … full on.’

‘Full on how?’

There was no doubt that the conversation had captivated Max. He was leaning forward and his eyes were focused on Chloe’s lips.

‘I asked if he’d knock me about a bit. Nothing awful, just a little slap. Maybe some hair-pulling. Choking. That sort of thing. Lots of people like it. It’s not a big deal.’

Max whistled. ‘It’s always the quiet ones.’

‘Lots of people like that sort of thing! Remember Fifty Shades?’

‘But Rav can’t manage the Christian Grey thing.’

‘No.’

‘And you feel hard done by?’