“I thought we were going out.”
“This is for later.”
She raises an eyebrow.
“You can choose whether to eat it on your own, or share it with someone.”
“I thought we were chaperoning Skylar and Carter.”
“We are. Cinema and dinner, as planned. Actually, we’re already late. The film starts at six and the closest cinema is in Bundoran. It’ll take us at least half an hour to get there.”
“Niall…”
“That’s what I’m here for.”
She studies my expression, unconvinced.
“At least, that’s whatI’mhere for. I don’t know about you.”
“What have I got to do with this? You’re the one who turned up here with cake.”
“What have you got to do with it? Have you seen your reflection tonight?”
“Yes, but—”
“And don’t tell me that you just pulled the first thing you could find out of the wardrobe. You’ll hurt my feelings.”
“What have your feelings got to do with my dress?”
“Just tell me you spent hours choosing it, that you were nervous about tonight. That you tried on everything in your wardrobe only to finally wear the first one you’d picked out, because you wanted me to like the way you looked. But I already like the way you look, all the time.”
I think I’ve shocked her a little.
She kneels down to put on her missing shoe, then stands up again, smoothing down her red dress.
“The second one.”
“Mmm?”
“I put on the second one I tried on. The first one had a stain.”
Our smiles are wide.
She goes to put the cake in the kitchen, then grabs her bag.
“Ready.”
She may be ready; but I’m not. I never could be. But I can’t go back on the speech I’ve just made. I can’t tell her that she has a one-up on me, or she’ll never let me live it down.
“Seriously, mate?Thor?”
“What?” Jordan asks. “What’s wrong withMarvelfilms?”
“Apart from the fact that all the superheroes are unnaturally muscly, and save the world over and over with their bare hands?”
“Someone scared of a little competition?” Skylar asks, teasing.
“Competition? There’s no competition. Come on!” I gesture towards the poster hanging in the wall of the cinema entrance.
