‘And he looks like George Clooney in ER,’ Lorcan said. ‘I imagine that doesn’t hurt.’

Jo smiled. ‘Well, that’s true, but him being an arse cancels out any good looks he might possess.’

‘Yes!’ Lorcan said. ‘There’s hope for us less aesthetically pleasing men after all.’

Jo laughed and looked at him. Did he not realise how attractive he was? She might have told him had she not been concerned with not taking advantage of his broken heart. She quickly changed the subject and, before she realised it, they had already walked on past Lorcan’s street and were in fact closer to her own home.

‘God, you didn’t need to walk me this far,’ she said. ‘We were too busy chatting to notice.’

‘I don’t mind,’ Lorcan replied. ‘I’ve enjoyed our chat.’

All Jo could do in return was smile, until she heard a small, very excited voice call her name. She turned her head to see Clara running down the street towards her. Still in her school uniform, with her backpack bouncing up and down on her shoulders as she ran, in perfect time with her bouncy curls. Clara was grinning.

Jo’s mum was following behind, and raised her hand to wave.

As she prepared for the imminent high-impact assault, Jo crouched down and opened her arms wide. Clara, absolutely delighted to see her big sister, barrelled into her and wrapped her arms tightly around Jo’s neck.

‘Jojo! Mammy and I were just having a walk-home disco and then I saw you!’

‘A walk-home disco?’ Jo asked as she stood up, lifted Clara off the ground and rained kisses onto her soft cheeks.

‘Yes!’ Clara said, with such authority it was as if everyone in the entire world should know what a walk-home disco was. ‘Mammy and me sing songs and dance while we’re walking. Put me down and I’ll show you.’

‘Okay, my wee dote,’ Jo said, and she watched while Clara launched into a Little Mix song and started to walk back towards her mum, hips wriggling and hands waving. Jo couldn’t help but be filled with joy when she saw her mum join in and sing all the words as well as Clara. It was simply gorgeous to watch the two of them act so silly together.

‘Are all your family this mad?’ Lorcan asked.

‘Afraid so,’ Jo replied and watched as a broad smile broke across Lorcan’s face.

‘Jo Campbell, I would very much like to see your walk-home disco moves.’

‘Is that a challenge?’ she asked.

‘It is,’ he replied. ‘But I’m warning you. I have some pretty crazy moves myself.’