For whatever reason, Oliver had concluded that was both a joke and one he could join in on. “Perhaps we can exchange details. Then we can meet up some day and discuss our favourite shades of beige or compare pension plans.”

Jonathan glanced at me. “Keep this one, Luc. He’s all right. Anyway, what are you doing these days?”

“I work for a charity that protects bugs that eat shit.” Two years ago, I’d have cringed. Now I liked to think I was owning it. Okay, renting it. “You?”

“I run a shop.”

I opened my mouth, then closed it again. “You…run a shop.”

“Yeah, big building, people come in and buy things. I know your parents are pop stars, but this is basic stuff.”

How I’d known this man for ten years and not punched him once, I’d never quite worked out. I suppose the seven-year gap in the middle helped. “I know what a shop is, you utter turd. I just thought you’d be in finance or something. Not selling…groceries?”

“I don’t sell groceries. I sell bath and bedroom furniture because people will always need it. I’ve got three stores, about to open a fourth. And, yeah, I’d probably earn more in the city, but I’d have to work for some prick with a hedge fund.”

“From where I’m standing,” I said, “you’re still working for some prick.” In hindsight, we didn’t know each other well enough anymore for me to be making that kind of joke, but I was a bit on edge on account of Miles and how Oliver and I hadn’t quite got a resolution on doesn’t-like-rainbows-gate.

“Fuck off, O’Donnell.” He turned back to Oliver. “Nice meeting you.”

“And you,” returned Oliver because he was a better person than me and didn’t randomly insult people at weddings.

“Sorry,” I said once Jonathan had vanished into the crowd. “I’d say I don’t know what happened, but he was always like that.”

Oliver gave me a faintly chiding look, which I’d have found sexy if it had happened in the bedroom. “As, I suspect, were you.”

“No, I just act like a wanker. He really is one.”

“I would say wankers are in the eye of the beholder, but that raises some disquieting images.”

I gave an involuntary blink. “Yeah, I definitely don’t want to think about Jonathan wanking, let alone wanking in my eye.”