‘I don’t think you have a choice. It’s all Aaron and Yas are talking about. Besides, from the look on your face, it seems like you enjoyed it.’

I rub at my cheeks, which are starting to ache from all the smiling.

‘You know, I thought I’d hate it and freeze up when it started, but I surprised myself by having a good time on stage. And people even laughed at some of the things I said.’

‘I’m definitely coming to watch the next one. And whilst we’re talking about things your emails have made you do, when’s your next trip to see your friend Sophie?’

‘Next weekend.’

Layla stirs in the milk.

‘I’m so glad you’re doing this, you know.’ She takes the tea bag out and slides the mug towards me.

‘Doing what?’

‘Listening to your old self. Putting yourself out there. You’ll keep me updated, won’t you?’

‘You’ll be the first person I tell when I get another one.’ Layla’s been such a good friend to me over the years, I’m so lucky to have her in my life.

‘Good, I’m looking forward to hearing the next instalment. And about your next night out with your old friends too. Right, I better get back to my desk. The big boss is a right slave driver.’

‘Pesky bosses, they ruin everything.’

She laughs. ‘I hope it goes well with the reading later on.’

‘Thanks,’ I call.

By the time I’ve made it back to my desk, I find my dad is sitting at his, his bright-orange tie acting like a beacon.

‘Sorry I’m late,’ he says when he spots me. ‘I had to take the car to the garage and they were out of courtesy cars, so I ended up taking the bus.’

‘A bus?’

‘Yeah, although I could have walked and got here quicker, with the roundabout route it took.’

‘Exercise might have done you good. Didn’t your doctor say you needed to lose some weight?’

He laughs and tells me he’s fine and not to worry so much, and I start to relax. One day I’ll learn not to torture myself over Dad and that he can look after himself.

It’s my first official volunteering session for the Big Little Readers. I had a meeting last week to make sure the paperwork for my background check was all OK and to complete a quick training session. But the majority of the training is done on the job. I’ve been teamed up with Arnold, a seasoned volunteer who’s going to show me the ropes.

My shoulders start to tense as the manager Adrian introduces me to him. It’s suddenly all becoming real.

‘Relax,’ says Arnold, ‘the children don’t bite. Or not that often anyway.’

He laughs, but it does nothing to ease my nerves.

‘I haven’t really done anything like this before.’