Taking a breath, he grabbed his phone and reached for the car door, then paused as he realised he had a message. He was surprised to see it was from Jessie. They’d chatted for a while when they first messaged. She’d told him about her nursing job at Carlow general hospital, making him smile with a few hair-raising tales of embarrassing accident and emergency situations. She’d also told him about her last boyfriend, who turned out to be a ‘lying shite’ – married, she’d discovered, and had promptly dumped him. Jason had been vague, avoiding saying anything about his personal circumstances, other than that he was recently separated – and he’d felt he was betraying Karla by saying that much. As he’d heard nothing from Jessie since, he’d assumed she’d shied away from the ‘recently separated’ scenario. Not sure he knew how to handle it, whether he should just accept being on his own rather than go down this impulsive route, Jason had half hoped she wouldn’t follow it up. Wondering now whether to answer, he pulled up the message, and then smiled when he read it.

So, are we still talking? Or did you find me about as scintillating as watching paint dry?

Ouch, he thought. Another woman whose feelings he’d hurt. She’d probably assumed he would contact her. Glancing towards the house, Jason hesitated and then keyed in a reply.

If you were paint, you would be sunshine yellow in colour. You brightened my day. It was corny, but he really didn’t want to leave another woman questioning her confidence because of him.

Full marks on the flattery. Keep it up. She sent back, with a winking emoji.

Jason’s smile widened. She could have sent a rolling-eyes one, he supposed.

So, you’re sporty. Athletically toned then? she asked him. You look like you are – unless your photo is ten years old?

It’s not, Jason assured her. Not doing much sport at the moment though.

What’s your fave? Tennis or squash, I bet, so you can sneak off at lunchtimes?

Into more physical sport. Jason didn’t mention the extreme sports, fancying that would make him sound as if he was trying to come across as some kind of macho man.

Hmm? Interesting, she sent back.

Jason laughed. You?

Outdoors girl: walking, cycling, swimming. Indoors: weightlifting.

Jason raised an eyebrow. Weightlifting?

Lager girl. Pint glass. So, do you want to elaborate on the ‘recently separated’? Or have I just turned a boring shade of brown?

Jason wavered. He was messing her about. He had to stop this, be honest with her. But then, albeit they were only messaging, she seemed easy to talk to. He so badly needed that: someone to just talk to, someone who might actually be listening, where Karla had simply stopped.