Abbott mumbled something about not minding. Mainly he was concentrating on Phil, who was hovering with intent, waiting for his chance to say, ‘What can I get you to drink, Alex? Beer, wine, gin and tonic?’ with Abbott just waiting to reply, ‘A beer, please, a beer would be perfect,’ wondering if he should have been ordering wine for the extra ABV. Hoping that Phil would be quick on the draw when it came to the refills.

Phil disappeared, leaving Abbott and Tess alone. She put a hand to his arm, a look of concern on her face. ‘Are you sure you’re OK?’ she said. She glanced towards the kitchen. ‘Phil doesn’t know what we talked about the other day. I didn’t think that you’d want—’

‘And what about the other thing?’ hissed Abbott, ‘Does he know about that?’

She reared back a little. ‘Know about what?’ Then dropped her voice. ‘That? Us? No, of course he doesn’t know about that, Alex. Fucksake. Don’t be stupid.’

‘You didn’t tell him about it because it meant nothing,’ he whispered, and he hated the words. He hated his own needy tone of voice. For a crazy second he wanted to shout, ‘The answer, Phil, is that, yes, I have killed people. I’ve killed plenty. I’ve caused pain and been hurt in return, but let me tell you that nothing hurt me more than your wife.’

Pull yourself together.

‘I’m sorry,’ he told her.

‘Well, all right,’ she said, ‘but there’s a time and a place, Alex, and this isn’t it. For God’s sake, my kids are here.’

And as if on cue, giving them both a shock so that they traded a quick glance, the two kids came running in.

They were, of course, lovely. And Phil, as he handed Abbott a bottle of beer that was chilled to perfection, the kind of beer that Abbott had spent the last three or four days dreaming about, was also lovely. Not threatened by Abbott. Not trying to start a pissing contest. Not feeling like he had to stake his claim.

And better still?

‘God loves a thirsty man,’ said Phil. ‘Let me take your empty and get you another.’

Tess flashed him a quizzical look. There was one thing she didn’t know about him. She didn’t know how much he drank.

And so, when moments later, the doorbell rang and Tess excused herself to fetch the pizza, calling the kids back down at the same time, Abbott turned to Phil. ‘I tell you what, mate, this is going down a treat. I couldn’t bother you for another one, could I?’ He proffered his empty.

‘Man after my own heart,’ said Phil, even though he’d barely touched his first. When he returned it was with two bottles, both of which he passed to Abbott. ‘Save me the shoe leather, eh?’ he said.