Michael pulled a roll of bills from inside his jacket – more money than I’d ever seen in my life. ‘Here. Give this to your sister, and you and I can hit the road.’

‘I’m taking classes …’

‘This is the school of life, princess. You’ll learn more on tour than you will in any classroom. Come on. This is the chance of a lifetime.’

I broke into a huge grin and leapt on him, throwing myself into his arms.

I felt like I’d been dipped in gold. Bathed in bright light. My handsome prince had come to get me.

‘Is that a yes?’ Michael said, laughing.

I nodded against his neck.

Michael whispered in my ear, ‘Get your things. Let’s get on the bus.’

‘I have to talk to my sister,’ I said. ‘Will you give me a minute?’

Dee appeared behind me then.

‘Lorna,’ she said. ‘What’s going on?’

‘I was just going to talk to you about—’

‘This is your sister?’ Michael asked.

‘Yes,’ I said. ‘This is Dee.’

‘A pleasure to meet you,’ said Michael, reaching out his hand to shake hers. Dee didn’t take it.

‘Lorna, please don’t do what I think you’re going to do,’ said Dee, arms crossed.

‘Listen, I’ll take care of your sister here,’ said Michael. ‘You have my word. And I’ll make sure all her rent is covered – whatever you need. I won’t leave you in a hole.’ He offered the big roll of cash to Dee.

Dee didn’t take the money. Instead, she fixed him with hard eyes. ‘You’re married. Right?’

Michael scratched his nose. ‘It’s complicated. Diane and I are apart more than we’re together. But let’s not get into that. Bits of paper and legal crap.’

‘Lorna has a life here,’ said Dee. ‘She has exams coming up. And she’s still recovering. Did she tell you she had cancer?’

‘She told me all about it,’ said Michael. ‘The full story. I will take care of her.’

‘Lorna, don’t do this,’ said Dee. ‘This is running away from your life. Not towards it. This is escape. Distraction.’ She turned on Michael. ‘Don’t you care that she’s studying? That you’re taking her away from her education?’

‘Sometimes real life is the best education,’ said Michael, stroking my arm and looking at me like I was something precious.

‘And what’s in it for you?’ Dee asked, arms still crossed. She knew the answer, of course. Sex on tap with a pliable, stupid teenager. But I have to hand it to Michael. Looking back, he never promised me anything. He was always upfront about who he was and what he was offering. It was me who filled in the blanks.

‘I want to go with him,’ I told Dee, nodding and nodding.