Leaning comfortably on the bar, Strike's mind was pleasantly occupied when a barely perceptible intake of breath caught his attention. He glanced over to see Matthew right beside him looking pale, his eyes pinned straight ahead apparently not looking at Strike. Strike felt as slow smile slide across his face at the obvious discomfort the other man was feeling at this surprise meeting. Matthew didn't seem to realize that his stiff back and unblinking eyes told the detective plainly that he knew that Strike was there. He glanced briefly at Robin as she scrolled idly through her phone nursing the last of the wine. She was looking radiant, with the healthy glow of laughter in her cheeks and a faint smile on the corners of her lips. She seemed to have forgotten Matthew altogether. Good, he thought. After some brief inner contemplation about the pros and cons of pettiness, pettiness won out. Strike turned his head feigned a look of cool surprise,
"Matthew!" He said, clapping the other man rather too forcefully on his back. Strike inwardly savored Matthew's jump of surprise, "Imagine running into you here!"
Matthew, who could find no way around it, finally looked at Strike, his face reddening with his obvious dismay. He had obvioiusly thought that a the gentlemanly thing to do in this situation was studied avoidance. Strike however, had other ideas about it. Matthew's mouth opened on words that never came out.
"Are you here with Sarah?" said Strike, craning his neck to look for her despite the fact that he knew exactly where she was sitting. "How does she like Masham?"
Matthew reddened further, not speaking and clearly trying to decide if his anger at Strike's ostentatious politeness was justified. Strike pivoted to lean on the bar, now facing Matthew. He was enjoying watching the other man's confusion descend into outright rage. When it was clear Matthew wasn't going to answer he said,
"Robin and I just popped down here for a drink," he jerked his head over his shoulder, "I think her brothers were getting on her nerves." he watched as Matthews's eyes found Robin and his redness faded to pale. Without seeing her himself, Strike knew she must've looked good as he watched a crease deepen between Matthew's eyebrows- yet he did not seem to want to look away. Strike watched him, his smile growing in spite of himself. He knew that this casual reference to Robin's brother's alluded to an intimacy that clearly irked Matthew. Good.
"I also heard congratulations are in order," said strike placidly, "Since I last saw you, it seems you've gotten married again. That was fast- but some people are clearly destined for each-other…. " Like the magnetic draw of flies to shit, strike thought happily. "And you're a father too? You've been busy now that you don't have to stress yourself about Robin's 'Safety'." He said twitching his finger in an air quote gesture. He Knew he didn't need to go this far- Matthew was already a delicate shade of puce, but he indulged himself nonetheless.
"You're a pair of fucking hypocrites" spat Matthew, lips barely moving as at long last words found him.
" Ah….." he smiled broadly "I'm not the one with a guilty conscience here. The repentance of a hypocrite is in itself a hypocrisy," Strike quoted. "unlike you, I never broke any vows." He paused for a moment to savor Matthew's rage "Still- I'm grateful to you for being a lying piece of shit. Without your 'support' she is now a full partner"
His beer arrived and he snatched it up and drank deeply,
"She's doing well by the way," he went on raising his glass to Matthew's scowling face, "She's dating now- I've actually never seen her happier."
The implication that Strike was dating Robin hung pleasantly over them. Strike knew it wasn't yet true, but he enjoyed the effect anyway.
Matthew turned on his heel, drinks forgotten. Without missing a beat Strike awkwardly gathered all four glasses and made his way back to their corner smiling broadly at Robin's look of surprise on seeing him carrying the extra drinks.
"They're from Matthew," He said winking slyly at her.