And what will it do to us?

Later that morning I was stretching at the gym, my right foot lifted up on the windowsill, feeling the pull in my hamstring, waiting for Spike.

He was talking to one of the new trainers, a stunning young Korean woman, the gym’s new yoga teacher. When she went off to the locker room, Spike picked up a 12-kilo medicine ball and lobbed it to me with a knowing grin. I caught it against my abs, feeling the whoosh of breath.

‘How would you like to see her downward dog?’ he said.

I smiled politely. I always gave Spike a pass on the harmless sexual banter. That was just him. Spike being Spike. He seemed to think it was required of him. That’s what I always believed. But perhaps that was another thing I was wrong about. I threw the medicine ball at him, putting my weight into it, and he chucked it back to me at half-velocity.

‘Listen, Christian,’ he said. ‘I need you to cover for me tonight.’

We paused as the Korean woman emerged from the locker room, shouldering her kitbag as she smiled at Spike and headed for the exit.

I said nothing. Spike watched her go, unable to tear his eyes away.

He turned back to me just in time to receive the medicine ball.

‘There’s something I’ve got to do,’ he said, wrapping his arms around the ball, holding it close, caressing it.

The gym was filling up now, the morning rush hour of people trying to get in a session before work, and he took a step towards me, smiling as if we understood each other.

‘Come on, mate. You’re out with me tonight, OK? Even if you’re not really. I mean, Ginger is not going to ask you. She’s not. But just in case she does.’

I shook my head. ‘Maybe not.’

He stepped away, offended.

‘I’d do the same for you, Christian.’

‘But I don’t need you to do the same for me, Spike. I don’t need you to lie for me.’

He tossed the ball at me and I felt it slam against my chest. I threw it back and he caught it neatly in his big meaty hands.

‘I’m not asking you to lie for me,’ he said.

He threw the ball at me, slightly harder than necessary. It was already slick with our sweat.

‘Sorry but I don’t think so, Spike. I wouldn’t want to lie to Ginger. She’s been Tara’s friend for a long time. And my friend, too.’

‘Yeah, all mates together. Not going to rat me out, are you, mate?’

I threw the ball at him. ‘I’m not going to rat you out. You do what you like, Spike, but I’m not going to lie for you.’

‘You don’t even know what you’re covering for.’

‘I’ve a pretty good idea.’

‘No, mate. Believe me, you haven’t a clue. You think I want to bang the little yoga teacher? Is that what you think?’