‘Yeah, s’me all right, Josh Flynn,’ said Rowan, grinning, and Josh thought that he’d had more than a couple of pints of that stuff, and it was strong.

‘Surprised you came all the way up here for this,’ said Josh, thinking of ordering a drink for himself and then thinking better of it.

Rowan was a giggling arsehole but he could also be a Trojan horse; the other Cleaver boys could be out in the car park, waiting to set upon Josh. Maybe they did still bear a grudge against him for stepping out from Cloudy’s shadow. Who knew? So it was best to keep a clear head. It was the Cleavers who had always benefited hugely from Cloudy’s insistence that Josh be the fall guy, so it was wise to be watchful.

‘How’s that sexy missus of yours?’ asked Rowan, slapping Josh on the shoulder. ‘Mrs Flynn now, eh? What a turn-up.’

‘What?’ Josh was wrong-footed. How the hell did Rowan know him and Shauna were married? Granted, Pally might have gone back home and announced Shauna’s pregnancy to all and sundry, but marriage? How could they know about that?

‘Your missus! Shauna Everett who was. You got a family and everything I hear.’

‘How did you hear that?’ They knew about the baby too. This was odd. And worrying.

‘Ah, ol’ Jeb likes to keep in touch with her even now. Does little jobs for her – well, he did one just this week. Christ knows they been bedmates for years.’ Rowan chuckled. It was an ugly sound. ‘Although she told him to piss off the last time he called on her. That offended him. He was hurt. He got feelings, like everyone else. Deep feelings. So he spoke to the rest of us and we decided Ciaran and me, we’d meet up at yours and have a chat.’

‘What the hell are you talking about?’ Josh felt like his brain was spinning. Jesus! Shauna had been communicating with the Cleavers? With Jeb? Bedmates? This was crazy!

‘Don’t go thinkin’ that we minded you winnin’ that fight against Matty O’Connor,’ said Rowan, calling to the barman for another. ‘Shauna set us straight on that. She heard you and that cute Milo girl talking about it and she came and told us. So we made a mint on that fight.’

‘Go on,’ said Josh, trying to take this all in. Shauna. Back in the camp, she’d been listening in when he spoke to Claire about the match. And since then? She’d been meeting up with this fucking rabble.

The next pint of scrumpy arrived and Rowan supped it thirstily.

‘You know what?’ said Rowan, clapping him on the shoulder again.

‘No. What?’