Unfiltered

by Sophie White

  ‘Ah, ah, nope.’ Sam leaned over her. ‘None of that now. You stop being a lil dose to my …’ He trailed off. The awkward silence spoke volumes, thought Ali; they still didn’t know what they were to each other.

  ‘His baby mama,’ Ali told the baby to save them both the angst.

  ‘You’re not my baby mama, Ali,’ Sam said quietly. He was still very close to her.

  Ali barely risked breathing in case the moment would come apart and they’d never be this close again.

  Millie, of course, was only momentarily silenced by Sam’s warning and now let out a piercing squall, startling Ali. She put the baby on her shoulder and began patting her.

  ‘You’re my Benson, Ali,’ said Sam over the screaming, brushing her hair back from her face.

  ‘So… does that make you Stabler in this analogy?’ Ali asked. ‘’Cos if you are, I’m not sure it works … you know they never actually—’

  ‘Ali, shut up, please.’ Sam grinned. And then they were kissing as Millie howled indignantly between them.

  Acknowledgements

  To the readers: every single person who read Filter This and tweeted and shared and sent me such wonderful messages about Ali and Shelly. Your messages were like life support while writing Unfiltered, even if I did feel a little under pressure to deliver lol.

  To the listeners: everyone who tunes into The Creep Dive, Mother of Pod and The Vulture Club, we have the best fun making these shows and it’s a pleasure to entertain a brilliant hive such as yourselves!

  To the ones who make it all possible: my wonderful editor Ciara Doorley, you are the best! Thank you so much for making my dream job a reality and my work infinitely better – we’ll always have the Eamons! Joanna Smyth, Elaine Egan and everyone else at Hachette Books Ireland who help bring books into the world. My agent Tanera Simon at Darly Anderson for patient guidance and invaluable wisdom.

  To the cheerleaders and collaborators, friends and faves, in no particular order: Cassie Delaney, Jen O’Dwyer, Liadán Hynes, Louise McSharry, Emer McLysaght. The Rogues – Aisling Keenan, Sarah Griffin, Louise Bruton, Fiona Hyde, Fionnuala Jones, Nadine Reid and Taryn deVere. Ellen Coyne, Lisa Coen, Sarah Davis-Goff, Soobie Lynch, Esther O’Moore Donoghue, Pauline Bewick, Poppy Melia, Siobhan Cleary, Joe Dowling, Brendan O’Connor, Gemma Fullam, Jane Doran, Emily Hourican, Teresa Daly, Paola Felix, Yvonne Hogan, Liz Kearney and Marian Keyes.

  To the ones who tolerate being related to me: Anne Harris, Nancy Harris, Mungo Harris, Constance Harris, Mary O’Sullivan, Vivianne White, Hilary White, Viktorija Balandina, William White, Triona McCarthy, Maxim White, Seren ‘Mini’ White, Sasha White, Rufus White, Ari White and Sonny White.

  To my all-time fave, best friend and best partner: Seb White.

  Thank You All xx