‘Oh, and the only other thing we need is for you to get a bit of a health check-up. Charlotte already knows your family is pretty clear of any major genetic diseases, but it’d still be good if you could get the all-clear that there’s nothing we need to worry about.’

‘Too easy. Like I said, work is flexible, so I can get that done.’

‘How is the next book going?’ Charlotte asked.

He glanced sideways and was relieved to see zero reaction from Sage that he was a writer. Their conversation hadn’t extended beyond flirtation the previous night, and they hadn’t even asked one another what they did for a living. She really was smooth.

‘I’m making progress,’ he said.

‘Really? That’s great. So that means you’ve stopped letting that horrible review get to you?’ Charlotte glanced at Sage. ‘Did he tell you about that? The SMH absolutely slaughtered him and it really knocked his confidence. He got stuck for ages.’ She turned back to Darren without giving Sage a chance to reply. ‘So, you’re close to delivery now?’

‘Pretty much.’

‘How exciting. Your agent must be so happy. She always said you were a star.’

‘Yeah, for sure.’

‘I’m really proud of you. I know this one was giving you so much trouble.’ Charlotte gave him a hard look. ‘You know you’re bloody talented, right? You always have been.’

Darren noticed that both Steph and Sage were being left out of the conversation. Sage was giving all of her attention to her drink, stirring it fairly vigorously.

He decided to shift the conversation away from his writing. ‘How’s your work going?’ he asked, turning to Steph and trying to remember exactly what it was she did for a living. Something to do with project management for a shipping company, he thought vaguely.

‘Boring,’ she said flatly.

‘Ah.’

‘What do you do?’ Steph asked, turning to Sage.

Darren found himself turning to her with interest himself, trying to guess what the answer might be. He wouldn’t be surprised if she said she was an actress, considering how great she was at playing his girlfriend tonight.

‘I’m a ballet dancer,’ she said.

‘Really?’ said Darren, unable to stop himself.

Charlotte gave him a funny look. ‘Didn’t you already know that?’

‘Well, I mean, yeah, of course —’

Sage cut in. ‘He’s surprised because I don’t usually describe myself that way. I’m usually too embarrassed to say it straight out because I only recently made company. Same way as I’m guessing Darren would have been embarrassed to tell people he’s a writer when he was first published.’

‘Yeah, I was definitely like that,’ Darren said quickly.

They were interrupted then as two waiters appeared at the table with various dishes of food.