Page 86 of The Blind Date

"I can't speak for Alina, but Dad knows I don't like talking about that part of my life." Cedric's face hardened, and he pursed his lips.

"It's nothing to be ashamed of," I murmured in a small voice.

"I'm not ashamed,” he was quick to clarify, his jaw clenched. "I just don't like talking about it, okay?" He snapped.

“I’m sorry for asking. You don’t have to talk about it if you don’t want to,” I murmured hesitantly, unpleasantly surprised at how he snapped at me. That was new.

We stayed like that for a few moments. Even though I was sitting in his lap, and many would consider that an intimate setting, it suddenly didn't feel so intimate anymore. Instead, it felt cold.

Cedric's eyes were tormented. He wasn't willing to admit it, but I could tell that a part of him wanted to talk about it.

"I'm sorry,” he eventually sighed and ran his fingers through his hair, gently pulling on the ends. "You were only asking a simple question. I shouldn't have snapped at you like that."

I shook my head. “I shouldn't have pried.”

“You were only asking.” He tightened his arms around me, reeling me closer. “The fault is mine. I’m sorry for snapping at you like that.”

I regarded him for a silent moment. As much as I wanted Cedric to open up to me, to trust me with all of him, especially his past, I didn’t want to force him. I wanted it to come naturally to him, and for him towantto open up to me.

“How are you going to make it up to me?” I grinned teasingly, the suggestion clear as I slowly brought his face closer to mine. I wished Cedric could be honest with me, that he would trust me enough to open up about his past, but it was clearly too soon for that, and I didn’t want to fight with him about it right now.

“I can think of a few ways,” he murmured as he inched his face closer to mine and claimed my mouth in a sweet, toe-curling kiss.

If I had it my way, I would have turned off the musings of Mr Darcy and Elizabeth Bennett as I moved us into the bedroom, but Cedric was adamant that we finish the movie. It was ironic since Pride and Prejudice was my favourite movie while he thought The Bennet Sisters was a rock band.

Waiting to finish the movie before jumping his bones was nothing short of torture, but it sure was sweet.

Later that night when Cedric was fast asleep beside me after fucking me silly, my mind came alive with doubt.

We all worked and healed in different ways, but at that moment, when Cedric was looking at me with so much sadness, I wondered if he had ever healed from it. I tried to gulp at the thought but found the rock in my throat difficult to swallow.

ChapterTwenty-Two

It was another Sunday roast out at a restaurant. Thankfully this time, it was just the three of us.

“This is nice,” I said as I glanced over the menu. “It’s been a while since the three of us have got Sunday dinner alone.”

“Yes, about that…” Mum’s voice trailed off before she turned to Dad, sending him a pointed look. It was one that all but begged for him to save her which was strange as what could she possibly need saving from?

“What aren’t you guys telling me?” I narrowed in suspicion, staring between them both. “It is just the three of us today, right?”

“Of course, it’s just the three of us,” she answered quickly, but I didn’t believe her.

"Why did you say it like that?"

She blinked innocently at me. "Like what?"

“Like you have something to hide.”

“We don’t have anything to hide.” She shrugged and turned to Dad. “We don’t have anything to hide, right, Don?”

They both shared a lingering look, silently debating whether they should tell me the truth.

“Your mum invited–” Dad started, but Mum elbowed him in the ribs. “Sorry,weinvited someone to join us for dinner this evening.”

“Who did you invite to dinner?” I groaned, internally rolling my eyes.

Before they could answer, a voice sounded from behind me.

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