Sam shrugged, looking like he’d never thought about it. ‘I suppose so.’
‘You should ask her out.’
‘What?’ He frowned. ‘Why?’
‘You just said she was cute.’
‘No.Yousaid she was cute. I just agreed with you. I haven’t even thought about her like that.’
‘Well, maybe you should. You two could be good together.’
The wounded expression on Sam’s face made her heart clench. ‘You want me to go out with Orla?’
‘It doesn’t matter to me. Suit yourself.’
Sam gave a baffled laugh. ‘Thanks, I will. Actually I was going to ask you if you wanted to go skating. The ice rink in Dundrum is opening at the weekend.’
‘Oh! That sounds … nice.’
‘You don’t seem too sure.’
‘No, I just … I didn’t realise it was opening. It’s not even Halloween yet!’
‘Do you like ice skating? I mean, I’m not married to the idea. We could do something else …’
‘No, I love it! We all do. We go at least once every year coming up to Christmas.’
‘How about Sunday, then?’
‘Great! And then we could go somewhere to eat afterwards. Mimi!’ She called to her sister who was nearby and waved her over. ‘Did you know Dundrum on Ice is opening at the weekend? What do you think about us all going on Sunday? Sam suggested a trip.’
Sam’s face fell as she spoke and Sive felt horrible, but pretending to be oblivious to his real intention seemed the gentlest, least humiliating way of letting him down.
Mimi looked from Sam to Sive, a quizzical frown furrowing her brow. ‘Sure,’ she said hesitantly. ‘Sounds good.’
‘Ask Rocco if he’s up for it,’ Sive said.
‘This was your idea, Sam?’ Mimi asked him.
‘Um … yeah. I guess.’ Sam gave a half laugh, looking bewildered.
‘Okay. Well, we should go early to beat the rush,’ Mimi said, ‘and then we can have lunch. I might make a start on my Christmas shopping in the afternoon.’
‘Isn’t it a bit early for that?’ Sive asked.
‘No harm in being organised. There won’t be a lot of time once the show starts.’
‘Okay,’ Sive said. ‘I’ll tell Aoife tonight and get her to run it by Jonathan, and then I’ll book us a slot.’
‘Sam! Bruv!’ Jack, Sam’s biggest fan, burst into the room followed by his mother. ‘Want to hear me spellings?’
‘Don’t bother Sam,’ Ciara said to her son. ‘He’s on his break.’
‘It’s no bother,’ Sam called to her cheerfully. ‘Ciara looks like she could do with a break herself,’ he murmured to Sive and Mimi before going to join Jack who was pulling a textbook out of his satchel.
‘What was that about?’ Mimi asked Sive under her breath as Sam walked away.
Sive shrugged. ‘Sam’s just being nice. Ciara does seem a bit stressed, and I think he genuinely doesn’t mind. He’s very fond of Jack.’
