They all go for a drink together a few weeks after that awkward first meeting. Cassie is still desperate to get Rob and Sam to like each other, although she's not sure why.
Predictably, Rob leaves Cassie and Sam alone while he goes to chat up a woman at the bar and, equally predictably, when he decides she's not his type he returns and puts an arm around Cassie.
"Quick, kiss me," he says in an undertone.
"Quick, fuck off," Cassie hisses back, just as urgently.
"What's up?" says Sam, frowning.
"She started showing me kitten photos. So I said I'd better get back to my girlfriend." Rob glances nervously over his shoulder, keeping his arm around Cassie.
She shrugs him off, leans over and plants a deep kiss on Sam, who responds enthusiastically after a pause.
"Thanks, Cass," Rob mutters. "Knew I could count on you."
"It's fine. She'll just think we're in a ménage à trois." Cassie sits back and smiles at Sam's dazed expression. The woman at the bar is watching them with a face like thunder.
"Next time I'll just say Sam's my boyfriend." Rob takes a sip of his pint.
"I'm out of your league." Sam smiles. Rob feigns indignation and Cassie has a moment of hope that her men can be friends.
