‘Alone at last!’ Sam said, turning to Sive as Aoife and Jonathan disappeared into the shopping centre, heading for the car park. His eyes glittered, intent on hers as he took her hand, his breath clouding in the air between them. Sive told herself it was okay to let him hold her hand. She was wearing gloves, so it wasn’t intimate like skin-on-skin contact would have been and it felt so nice.
But then his gaze dropped to her mouth and he was leaning in closer. ‘I’ve wanted to do this for the longest time,’ he murmured. But just as he was about to kiss her, he glanced over Sive’s shoulder and pulled back. ‘Oh, god.’ His face was grim.
‘What?’ Sive turned to see what had caught his eye.
‘Sophie,’ Sam breathed as a woman Sive vaguely recognised walked towards them.
‘Sam! Fancy meeting you here.’ Sophie smiled at him then shifted her gaze to Sive, giving her the once-over. ‘You’re Sive, right? Sophie.’ She pointed to herself.
‘Yes.’ Sive nodded. ‘Nice to meet you.’
‘So, how’re you doing, Sam?’
‘Yeah, good. Great.’ Sam had plastered a smile to his face the minute Sophie reached them, but there was a definite rictus quality to it.
‘You look good.’
‘So do you.’
Sophie did look good. Whippet-thin and perfectly groomed, soft grey leggings were moulded to her long, coltish legs and her feet were encased in a pair of brown Ugg boots, while her snug white puffa jacket was as stylish as it was practical. Her glossy dark hair fell in soft waves around her shoulders and her face was perfectly made-up, her kohl-lined eyes framed by long lashes thick with mascara. Sive instantly felt scruffy and frumpish next to her.
‘Well, I have to go,’ Sophie said. ‘I’m meeting the girls at The Porthouse. But it was good to see you, Sam.’
‘Yeah, you too.’
She gave Sive a little wave and skipped off towards the steps.
Sam heaved a sigh. ‘Sorry about that.’
‘It’s fine.’
‘Now, where were we?’ His fixed smile was replaced by a genuine one as he took Sive’s hand and leaned in again.
His lips barely touched hers, and Sive yearned with every fibre of her being to wrap her arms around him, lean into his body and kiss him back. Instead, she pulled away.
‘Sorry.’ Sam pulled back instantly. He dropped his head, but she’d already caught the look of hurt and confusion on his face.
‘No, it’s fine.I’msorry.’
‘I thought…’ He broke off, raking a hand through his hair. ‘I’m an idiot.’
‘No, you’re not. It’s not that I don’t want to. I really like you, Sam, just—’
He nodded. ‘Not in that way,’ he finished for her. ‘Sure. I get it.’ He paused a beat before continuing. ‘I have sort of had the feeling you’ve been avoiding me lately?’ It was said in his usual cheerful, affable tone, but Sive could hear the hurt underlying the words. Damn! Why hadn’t she gone home with Aoife and Jonathan when she had the chance?
‘I mean, I thought … Maybe I got the wrong end of the stick, but cards on the table, I really like you, Sive and I thought…’
‘I really like you too. It’s just …’ She cast around for something to say.
‘Too soon?’ Sam’s eyes were full of understanding.
‘Yes!’ Sive latched onto the excuse gratefully.
‘You could have just said, you know. I don’t want to pressure you.’
‘I know. I’m sorry. My head is a bit of a mess at the moment. I was with Ben for such a long time – all my adult life, really – and it’s only been a few weeks…’
Sam nodded. ‘I get it. I can wait until the time is right – whenever you’re ready.’
