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you a bit of time to, y’know …’
    â€˜How much time did you think I needed?’
    â€˜I …’
    â€˜Jimmy, I’m not sixteen any more, y’know? Going out with the lead singer in the band was all well and good when he was just on the posters on your bedroom wall and it wasn’t real. But this is different. Even when I was in Dublin, the way people kept coming up to you in the street, I felt like I was getting in the way. Like I was taking up time you should have been spending with them. I’d just kind of stand to one side and try not to look too much like some groupie you’d just picked up.’
    â€˜Ah Jesus, Susan, it’s not like that. And it’s all new to me too, believe me. I still get surprised when it happens and then I don’t know what to say to them. I mean, this is Dublin, right? Half the time they just come up and go, “hey you, singer bloke, you think you’re fuckin’ great, don’t ye?” and then walk off.’
    She laughed. It was the sweetest sound he’d heard in weeks.
    â€˜Susan …’
    â€˜Jimmy listen to me. I told you before that not a lot of people can do what you can do. You have so much talent, God. I don’t want to be the one who stops you showing it off. You deserve everything you have now. You should enjoy it.’
    â€˜But I’m not. It’s not like it was meant to be. There’s something … fucked up about it all. Something’s missing or something.’
    â€˜What could be missing?’
    â€˜I … I’m not sure.’
    Don’t fucking say it, Jimmy. It’s not fair. Don’t mess with her head like that. You’re either in or you’re fucking out. Where’s your balls? There was another pause. Then …
    â€˜I saw the “Strut” video yesterday.’
    â€˜Oh, did you? So, what did you think?’
    â€˜It’s so weird to see you on the TV like that! You wouldn’t believe it. But, no, it’s really great! It’s a good change after “Caillte”. Shows that you’re versatile. Aesop smiles a lot when he’s playing the drums, doesn’t he?’
    â€˜Depends on the song. You should have seen the head on him this morning when we played my latest masterpiece in the studio.’
    â€˜You both looked great. Very sexy. I didn’t see the Japanese guy you were talking about though. Is he not coming back to play with you?’
    â€˜Probably not. Maybe. He doesn’t know yet. It’d be great though, he’s a great bloke.’
    â€˜Who were the girls?’
    â€˜Who?’
    â€˜The girls in the video.’
    â€˜Oh, just some dancers. We hired them for the shoot. Probably another reason Aesop was smiling like that.’
    â€˜And you?’
    â€˜Nah. Not my scene.’
    â€˜Jimmy?’
    â€˜Yeah?’
    â€˜It’s … I guess it’s kind of hard to sit all the way over here and wonder. I mean, I know what Aesop’s like. Amanda sent him a few emails, but I don’t think he replied. I can only imagine what you guys are getting up to, the things that are happening around you now.’
    â€˜Susan, it’s not like that. I swear to God.’
    â€˜Isn’t it?’
    â€˜No! Well, maybe a little bit. I mean it’s there all right. Aesop is certainly enjoying himself. But I’ve known him since school and, believe me, he’s been living this life since he was about thirteen. The only difference is that he doesn’t have to borrow money off me all the time now. He’s the rockstar. I’m just a musician, same as I always was. And I don’t get caught up in all that shite. It’s a bit distracting to be honest. I’m too busy. And anyway it’s embarrassing.’
    â€˜Jimmy, be a rockstar.’
    â€˜What?’
    â€˜Go and be a rockstar. Please. It’d make me happy to know that everything you’ve worked for all these