‘Let’s drink to that.’ Dee lifted her glass. ‘Then let’s order some bloody food. We’ve got a market stall to run tomorrow and I’m starving.’
Chapter Twenty-Eight
‘Remind me never to invite you down on a market weekend again.’ Sabrina croaked as both she and Dee stood outside Tinsel Town nursing huge hangovers and wearing saucer size sunglasses.
‘It could be worse– it could be freezing cold. At least this Autumn sunshine is putting some brightness on the matter,’ Sabrina said. ‘And I did tell you to stay back in that huge comfy hotel bed.’
‘No. I helped get us in this mess, so I’m here.’ Dee was resolute. ‘Can’t say I’ll be here all day, but I’m here now.’
‘We planned it so wrong.’ Sabrina yawned. ‘We are missing out on a legendary Penrigan View Hotel breakfast, too.’
‘It’s fine.’ Dee caught Sabrina’s yawn.
‘We have two more nights there to relax.’ Sabrina brushed a stray leaf off the market stall. ‘And, to be honest, it might have to be an early finish. I am the boss, after all.’
The sound of an Irish accent caused Sabrina to instantaneously smile. ‘Ah, here’s my girl. Jesus, Dickens you look like shite, and that’s only seeing half your face.’
‘Thanks, mate! Conor, this is Dee, long-term friend and mischief maker. Dee this is Conor. My roommate and…’ Sabrina felt herself waiver and flush.
‘Shoulder to cry on.’ Conor gave one of his lop-sided grins.
Dee held out her hand. ‘Lovely to meet you. I’ve heard all about you.’
‘All bad, I hope.’ He grinned again. ‘Looks like you had the craic at that fancy hotel last night, for sure. Good on you, ladies.’
‘What are you doing up here, anyway?’ Sabrina acknowledged a customer who had started browsing the new Gisela Graham baubles she’d just ordered in.
‘Just waiting on a bacon bap from Uncle Frank, so I am, and wanted to check you two had a good night.’ As he looked to Sabrina, his voice softened. ‘You needed that.’
‘I did. But not this bloody hangover.’
‘I tell you what, have you had breakfast?’
‘No, we literally skidded in without so much as a cup of tea earlier.’ Dee groaned.
‘And we’ve been too busy to make one, since.’ Sabrina added mournfully.
‘I’ve got to get back on the ferry now, but how I about I order you in some bacon baps and a couple of cappuccino from Frank’s and I’ll get young Kirsty who helps him on a Saturday to drop them up to you?’
‘Amazing! Here.’ Sabrina went to give him some money.
He waved her hand away. ‘Don’t work too hard.’ He then bolted off back down Ferry Lane.
‘He fancies you,’ Dee said matter-of-factly as she started going through the rail of Christmas jumpers.
Sabrina gave a feeble laugh. ‘Don’t be silly.’
‘What man goes out of his way to run up a hill to say hello and then go and get you breakfast?’
‘A decent one?’
‘Exactly– someone who gives a shit. About you! And you told me last night that when you were distressed about Lowen, Conor not only gave you the best hugs but also cycled all the way from his uncle’s place to you in the middle of his night out. I mean, if that doesn’t smack of someone who cares about you a lot, I don’t know what does.’
Sabrina kept her eyes averted from her friend’s. ‘Maybe.’
‘Actions, Rini. Actions. Theydospeak louder than words. And he’s hardly been hit with the ugly stick either, has he? In fact,’ Dee put on an Irish accent, ‘he really is quite the ride!’
Sabrina laughed, then groaned. ‘Stop it, my head hurts. And I don’t want just aride– I had that with Mr Market Inspector. When I’m ready, I wanta romance.’
