McCann’s all ready for this one. He shrugs. ‘No one likes sharing. But sure, I always used johnnies, so what harm?’

‘Were you surprised?’ Steve asks.

‘Didn’t think about that either way.’

‘Lucy was surprised. When she found out about Rory.’

That gets a sardonic grin. ‘Yeah. Bet she was only delighted: two guys between her and Aislinn now, instead of just one.’

Steve says, ‘She was surprised because Aislinn was in love with you, man. Mad about you. Did you know that?’

A twitch of McCann’s head, like that flew at him. He doesn’t know any more whether that was true or not, doesn’t want to think about it either way. He says – careful again, remembering those texts – ‘Doesn’t exactly come out of the blue.’

‘She’d never been in love before. You were the first. Did you know that, too?’

‘She might’ve mentioned it. I don’t remember.’

‘So,’ Steve says, ‘if she was head over heels with you, why was she having a romantic dinner with some other guy?’

McCann’s good. It’s only because I’m looking for it that I catch the snap of pain, quick and savage as a muzzle-flash. ‘Who knows. Women are mental.’

‘OK,’ I say, tapping the edge of my mug and frowning at it. ‘Let’s think it through. Aislinn was in love with you, but not vice versa. Right?’

McCann’s got his control back. He snorts. ‘Jesus. Nah. She was a good girl, good company. The sex was great. That’s all there was to it.’

‘Did she know you felt that way?’

‘I’d more sense than to say it to her, if that’s what you’re asking.’

‘But she might’ve suspected. She wasn’t stupid.’

‘Might’ve. I wouldn’t know.’

‘If she suspected,’ Steve says, ‘she would’ve been devastated. First love: it’s powerful stuff. That didn’t bother you?’

We’re picking up the pace. McCann hasn’t missed it: his back’s straightened, there’s a focused blue flash to his eyes. For a second there I see him twenty years ago, all cheekbone ridges and dark stubble and those long-distance blue eyes, and I see why he still thought he might have a shot with Aislinn.

He says, ‘I wasn’t out to hurt her. But I wasn’t there to babysit, either. Aislinn was a grown woman.’

‘So could that be what her little thing with Rory was all about, yeah?’ I ask. ‘Trying to make you jealous?’

Shrug. ‘Doubt it. Seeing as I didn’t know he existed.’

‘She kept texts from him on her phone. She might’ve been betting you’d read them.’

That raw flush again, the minuscule flinch of his head. ‘Even if I had. Wouldn’t have worked, and Aislinn had enough cop-on to know that.’

‘Maybe she was using Rory as a distraction?’ Steve suggests. I know, sure as I know where my hands are, that he’s picked up on where I’m heading, he’s right beside me. ‘Trying to take her mind off you?’

‘Could’ve been.’

‘Meaning she did suspect you weren’t in as deep as she was.’