‘Course you are. It’s the best news ever, bruv.’

‘You’re gonna be a godparent.’

‘Bethany ain’t gonna stand for that.’

‘I’m putting my foot down, Abs. You’re gonna be a godparent, whether she likes it or not.’

It was true Abs was tired and emotional, his nerves were on edge, but he was welling up. Jez’s news felt like a sign of better days to come. Abs often felt that his friend could be undermined by Bethany, henpecked even, and his becoming a dad could help put their relationship on an equal footing. Jez still had family out there somewhere, a mother and a sister – not that he’d want to go near either of those nutcases with a bargepole, from what Abs had heard – but now he’d have a brood of his own, a dynasty of little Westons.

And to think Abs had come this close to ruining Jez’s life by blurting out a confession to the Silver Lady, just as his mate was about to embark on a wonderful new phase of his life.

‘So that’s what you wanted to tell me last night, yeah? That’s why you were acting all funny.’

Jez said after a moment, ‘I only found out this morning. You’re the first person I’ve told.’

Abs would love to have kids, he supposed it wasn’t too late, but he couldn’t see Kelsey agreeing to it, not while she was still the Queen of Reality TV. He’d mentioned it to her once, dropped the possibility into conversation, and she’d thought he was angling for a spin-off show about their life bringing up a showbiz baby.

‘Let me run it past my agent, babes,’ she’d told him doubtfully, and they never spoke about it again.

But when he was back on the show, and once again as famous as she was, the universe would be in balance, the stars aligned, and they could get back together. They’d be the Golden Couple once again, and the world would be their oyster. Maybe then they’d have a kid of their own, which they could dress in cute designer baby gear.

‘I’d love to come, mate, nothing would keep me away. And look…’ He felt he had to say something about the party. ‘I’m sorry about last night. We never got to have that talk. If you still want to discuss whatever it is…’

Abs held his breath.

‘No, it wasn’t important.’ Relief washed over Abs and he hoped that now Bethany was expecting, Jez had put to bed any silly ideas he may have had about turning himself in to the police. ‘Sorry I didn’t stay longer. I’ll see you later, yeah?’

‘Wouldn’t miss it for the world, geezer,’ said Abs. ‘Laters.’