What he should know and what he does are two entirely different things. And what his head tells him is completely different to what his gut tells him - one says that there has, quite clearly, been no encouragement from her back at home. The other tells him that if he were to make his move, he could be on that bed, between her legs, before the fag in the ashtray has made it down to the filter.

Listening to one of these options leaves a lot less room for embarrassment and hurt and awkwardness. And he's tired and his head feels like it's about to fall off. So his brain gets the benefit of the doubt.

'Wha's wrong?'

It'd be rude not to ask. He even digs the spoon out for her.