Sam Thompson looked delighted to be reunited with the cats he shares with his ex-girlfriend, Zara McDermott, after the couple called it quits in December. The reality stars, who lived together, parted ways after five years – before Zara, 28, moved on with One Direction star, Louis Tomlinson, 33.
Sam, 32, who last month admitted he wasn’t ready to date anyone, is yet to comment directly on Zara’s new relationship with the Holding onto Heartache star. However, he looked relieved to be holding the adorable Ragdoll cat he still shares with the Love Islander as he took Instagram, documenting their happy reunion.
Smiling into Albus’ eyes as he held the huge ball of fluff affectionately, he wrote: “Back with my number one” with a heart emoji. He then shared a video of himself with his sister, Louise Thompson, teasing: “And my number two…she’s missed me,” followed by three laughing emojis.
It comes after Sam recently told his followers he would be “back with my kids soon” as he shared a throwback photo of himself and his cats. Albus and Cedric, with a huge smile on his face.
Zara, meanwhile, looks to have finally ‘soft launched’ her relationship with Louis with a cheeky Instagram photo of a date in Malibu after weeks of speculation regarding their romance.
While friends insist it is “early days”, the pair have been enjoying a series of “low-key” dates and have been clearly having fun together.
In a new photo posted to social media, Zara shared her food and the food of the person she was with. Eagle-eyed fans noticed that Louis’ tattoo was visible in the snap, soft-launching their relationship.
Sam is yet to comment on the relationship directly but did make a cryptic comment, saying: “People look for validation in others to fill that hole”, which is something he says he ‘can’t do’.
Speaking with friend and Married At First sight star, Paul C Brunson, on a recent episode of his podcast Staying Relevant, Sam was asked what he was doing to find self love.
Responding candidly, the I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here! winner confessed he isn’t even thinking about dating again as he replied: “Not much to be honest with you.”
Suggesting people look for validation in others, he continued: “I suppose a lot of people look for validation in other people right? And they look for the next person instantly because it’s like: ‘I need to find someone else to fill that hole and I need to find that excitement. You know when you get that excited feeling when you are talking to someone new and fresh. I can’t do that.”
Sam then explained he wants to focus on prioritising his family and admitted he barely ever goes out. Paul asked: “What are your values outside of creativity?” as Sam replied: ‘I mean I love home, I am a real home body. I love my cats and being around my family and being in my home, I barely ever go out.”
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