Page 29 of The Blind Date

“Saffron, what are you doing standing there?” Alfie asked, the first of the four to finally notice me standing there like a fish out of water. “Are you okay? You look like you’ve just seen a ghost.”

"That's what I said,” Cedric snorted, but the moment the words passed his lips, he visibly winced. I winced too. We both knew that would be live bait for our more than eager parents.

"When did you say that?” Yasmin asked with a sweet smile on her face.

When everyone turned to glance at him, I took that moment to round the table and take my seat which, unfortunately for me, just happened to be right next to Cedric. How convenient.

It was almost as if our parents had planned this. Note the sarcasm.

“Sorry, what?” It was Cedric’s turn to gape.

"I think what Yasmin means is, when did you say that Saffron looks like she's seen a ghost?" Mum asked, seemingly able to read Yasmin's mind now. "On your date?"

“No.” He shook his head. “We ran into each other earlier outside the bathrooms and had a little chat.”

“It was very brief. Not much of a chat.” I was sure to add as I took a sip from my unsophisticated root beer. The last thing I wanted was to give our parents false hope. Cedric and I weren't the least bit compatible.

“That’s so sweet.” Yasmin grinned at the both of us.

“You two look so good together,” Mum added, only adding fuel to the fire.

Conversations gradually drifted back to before I returned from the bathroom, and Cedric and I turned to each other at the same time.

“I have to admit, when we both said that we were both out for dinner with our parents, I didn’t think it would be together.” Cedric leaned over to whisper, his warm breath fanning across the side of my face. I fought the temptation to shiver when goosebumps spread across the back of my neck.

“Me neither,” I sighed. “Now it makes sense why my parents were acting so strange earlier.”

“Mine too,” he agreed. “They were so adamant about me having dinner with them tonight that I had to cancel my plans.”

“Another blind date?” It was an innocent question, but as soon as the words passed my lips, I wanted to kick myself.

“Why? Are you jealous?”

I snorted. “You wish.”

“I do.” A teasing grin played on his lips.

I rolled my eyes at his childish antics and took another swig from my root beer. When my elbow nudged him, I frowned and glanced around the table.

“Is it just me that thinks we’re sat really close to each other compared to everyone else?”

“No, it’s not just you,” Cedric murmured, his eyes following mine.

“They’re sat spaced out on purpose,” I told him, my tone incredulous.

“This is no doubt another ruse to push us together.”

“No offence, but I don’t see what my parents see in you.”

"Usually, when people start with no offence, they intend to offend.” He sent me a pointed look, a humoured smirk on his face.

“It’s just an expression,” I defended.

"Not when you intended to wound me with your words."

“You’re so dramatic, you know that?” I pursed my lips, already starting to lose my patience with this man. And it hadn’t even been five minutes!

“Funnily enough, no one’s ever told me that before.”

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