‘I don’t know. I’m not sure where to even start.’
‘Same place as you find these one-night stands, I suppose,’ Owen said. ‘We could go to the pub on your night off.’
‘But you’re not looking to meet someone. You already have a girlfriend.’
‘No, but I can be your wingman.’
‘How would Katie feel about that?’
Owen shrugged. ‘She wouldn’t mind. Unlike you, I have more than one night off a week.’
‘Okay then. I probably should try to have more of a social life anyway.’
‘Yeah, it’d do you good to broaden your horizons a bit. All work and no play…’
‘Are you calling me a dull boy?’
‘Never. But you could stand to get out more.’
‘Yeah.’ After Astrid left, his world had shrunk overnight to the twin responsibilities of raising Bo and establishing his restaurant. There had been little time for anything else. He’dbarely looked up in the past five years, and he hadn’t even realised how circumscribed his life had become.
‘And even if you don’t meet someone, we’ll have a laugh anyway.’
Aidan didn’t know if their mother had primed her, but when his sister Abbie came over to babysit Bo for the evening, she picked up right where Sheena had left off.
‘I hear you’re going to start dating,’ she said to him.
‘What? Where did you hear that?’
‘Mum said.’
Aidan rolled his eyes. ‘That was her idea, not mine. I didn’t say I agreed with her.’
‘Well, I think she’s right. You should get out there, date someone properly. Stop just shagging tourists.’
‘You’re one to talk.’ Abbie herself only dated people who were just passing through. But that was because she had actor Ryan Furey dangling on a string and wanted to keep herself free for whenever he came back from LA, where he now lived.
‘That’s different.’
‘Yeah, I know. Because you’re saving yourself for Ryan.’
‘But Astrid’s not coming back, is she?’
‘Jesus. I know that.’
‘Well then…’
‘Who do you suggest I date? I can’t very well make a move on one of Bo’s friends’ mums.’
‘There are single people around here too, you know.’
‘Don’t say Aifric. I love her and everything, but…’
‘Ew! I wasn’t going to say Aifric. She’s like our sister.’
‘Exactly.’ Aifric was Abbie’s friend and business partner and they’d all known each other since childhood.
‘But what about Ingrid? She’s lovely, and she’s single, isn’t she?’
