He noticed her sister Roisin at first, who had smiled at him as the group of eight girls entered the old pub. Roisin, of the entire group, caused quite a stir among Killane’s finest. She was first through the door and first to ask if any of the open mouths wanted to buy her a drink. Harry Crossan ordered it and was sitting beside her before Bernadette walked in, head bowed, at the back of the group and stood self-consciously behind her sister’s back. She focused mainly on the floor, but occasionally peeped out from under her long dark hair. When her eyes settled on Cormac, they set a hammer off in his chest. She remained standing there for the rest of the night. Her eyes fixed on the floor except occasionally when he was sure they were searching for him. He watched in impotent horror, as one after the other, every eligible boy in the room made his way to her. His spirits would rise, as one after one was turned away with a shake of her head and a glance to him.

‘They’re getting picked up in ten minutes. You better make a move, Romeo.’

Harry had surgically removed his backside from the stool at the bar and his lips from Roisin while she and Bernadette had gone to the bathroom.

‘What do you mean, Romeo? You’re the one who hasn’t left that girl’s side all night.’

‘And you haven’t taken your eyes off her wee sister in the red dress.’

‘She is beautiful Harry, but I don’t know what to do.’

‘What do you mean, you don’t know what to do?’

‘I’ve never asked a girl out before. In fact, I have only spoken to about three, and two of them are my cousins and the other one is Maggie, so they don’t really count, do they? It’s alright for you. You’ve had loads of girlfriends. ‘

‘I’ve had three, actually, and two of them were my cousins, so they don’t count either!’

‘Were they?’

‘No, of course they fucking weren’t. I’m just trying to make you feel better about being such a dick!’

‘I’m sorry, Harry. I just wouldn’t know what to say to her, and I would just end up making a fool of myself.’

‘And don’t you think standing at the other side of the room, staring at her all night without saying a word to her, is making a fool of yourself?’

Cormac didn’t have time to answer before Roisin and Bernadette reappeared from the bathroom. They walked across the small dance floor before stopping in front of Harry. Roisin stood in front of Bernadette and Harry stood in front of Cormac.

‘Harry, here’s my number. We’re going to wait outside. Our minibus will be here in a minute.’

Then they started to walk away and the room started to spin on its axis. Cormac’s hammer started banging in his chest. But still he let her go without a word.

He could hear Harry shouting over the beginning of the last song of the night.