So, this wasn’t how you’d planned to spend your Wednesday night. Come on, it was mid September, and your boyfriend had literally just dumped you. In the middle of the street, he’d confessed to not being over his ex, apologised profusely, and then dashed off to his ex’s place. Ouch. Yeah no, you weren’t that fussed about him. Definitely an asshole.

So clad in shorts and a sweater, you start the gruelling walk back, in the evening to your house. It was below -3 degrees celsius out and it was not shorts weather. In your defence, he’d dragged out of bed in practically pyjamas. Asshole.

Nighttime is a dangerous time for anyone to be out alone, let alone a teenager and a girl. So when a very nice sports Audi A3, slows down for a few seconds beside you, you grip your battery dead phone and prepare to run. When the window slides down, you wince and tense-

“You bleeding eejit. Why are you out in pyjamas in the cold? In fecking October?”

Relief was too meagre of a word. Every muscle coiled right to attention slackened and you breathed out a sigh, that turned into white mist in the air. Yeah, he had a point - definitely not shorts weather. “Johnny.” You walk over. “What’re you doing around here?”

He shrugs, “On my way back from the swimming pool. A bit more of a relaxed cardio.” Relaxed and Johnny Kavanagh’s workout schedule? Not two words you found in the same sentence.

“Now will you get in my car? It’s bleeding dangerous bein’ out now.”

You scurry into the car, mumbling apologies and many, many thanks. “Don’t mention it.” He rolls up his window and flicks the radio back on. “Pick what you want.” He says, absentmindedly fiddling with the heater settings. “Fucking things don’t- ah, there we go.” Warm air blows over both of you, sending a shiver down your spine.

He drives down the road, as small talk drifts between you and you spill everything that happened with your, now, ex boyfriend. “Well shit,” he does that sexy action of rubbing his jaw, whilst still holding the steering wheel with the other hand, looking past your silhouette and out of your window, before making the turn on the roundabout to get to your neighbourhood. “What a prick.”

Little did you know, Johnny was utterly besotted with you. Enamoured, infatuated, adoring 24/7. He beat other guys up for talking bad about you, and he’d take great pleasure tomorrow morning beating the living shit out of that ex twat of yours.

When you pull up to your place, the lights are all switched off, your hit with the chilling reminder that you’re home alone. Parents are both in London, working on some huge projects in separate companies. “Mam and Dad not home?” He frowns.

“Ah, no. They’re in London for a few days.”

“So you’re alone?” His brow furrows deeper as you nod. “Well then you’re staying with me.” As you open your mouth to protest, he beats you to it. “Let’s go inside and you can pack a bag with your uniform and everything, okay?” Surprised at his gentle enforcement, you, without a hitch, pack quickly for the next few days, and return downstairs, to him stood at the door ready, studying pictures of you as a child. “You were adorable.” He clocks your luggage. “Ready to go?”

About twenty minutes later you pull up outside his place. “No wonder the team call it ‘Kavanagh Manor’.” I marvel, as we get out of the car. He rubs his neck sheepishly. “I told my Ma you’re coming by the way.”

The front door swings open, and down runs a stylish and lovely blonde woman, with a ridiculous resemblance to Johnny. “Hi love. I’m Edel. Johnny told me all about-“

“Mam.”