Page 13 of The Blind Date

“I called him to make sure that he–”

“Wait. I changed my mind.” I groaned and pressed my hand over my mouth. “I don’t want to know.” I groaned again, pausing to take a large swig of my wine. "I've had such a long week at work. It's Friday night and all of my friends are out clubbing. Instead of hanging out with them, you want me to wait around for someone who might not even show up?”

"Yes, but he’s definitely going to show. Just give him a little while." Mum remained adamant. "Cedric is your soulmate, Saff. I can feel it. I’m sure you can spare your soulmate another twenty minutes or so."

“I’d like to think my soulmate would have the decency not to be late for our first date,” I snorted.

“Don’t be so hard on him, Saff. He’s only a little late. The least you could do is hear him out."

“No, the least I can do is nothing.” I downed the rest of my wine and slid my credit card across the bar, indicating to the bartender that it would be my last drink. "Look, Mum. I know that you and Dad are worried about me being alone my whole life, bla-bla-bla, but don't you think setting me up on all these blind dates is a bit excessive? Ten a month? Why don't we drop that number? Maybe to five? I would argue that five blind dates a month are more than reasonable.”

"No," Mum denied without so much as a second thought. "Because one day in two, maybe three years, it's going to be your wedding day, and in your wedding vows, you're going to thank your dad and me for setting you up on all these blind dates because that's how you met the love of your life. If it wasn’t clear already, I’m talking about Cedric.”

"I haven't even met the man, and you're already planning our wedding. That's a bit much, don't you think?"

“I just worry about you, honey. That’s all.”

"I know you worry about me, Mum, but there's nothing to worry about. I’ll find him when I find him,” I tried to assure her, but it was no use. Mum and I discussed my non-existent love life nearly on a weekly basis, so she already knew all there was to know.

"And all these blind dates are a good way of putting yourself out there."

While Mum was right, all these terrible dates were starting to become too much. My only solace was that this would be my last date of the month.

"I'll wait for another ten minutes, and if Cedric doesn't show up by then, I’m going to leave, okay?" I offered because I knew she wouldn't give in so easily.

“I’m sure you can spare him twenty minutes, Saff,” she tried to bargain.

I halted in my words when I felt someone tap me on the shoulder. The endless pit of dread that began bubbling away at the bottom of my stomach told me exactly who the person standing behind me was.

"Mum, I'll call you later, okay?" I whispered into the phone, my eyes wide with dread.

I was very aware that this person was staring holes into the back of my head, patiently waiting for me to turn around and acknowledge them.

“Has Cedric arrived?” Mum asked, eager and excitable. “Of course, he has! I knew he was too sweet of a boy to stand a woman up!”

The person Mum referred to as a boy couldn’t be further from a boy if he tried. When I turned around, I was met with a being that I could only describe as a sinfully handsome man.

Sex on legs wasn’t far off.

It was the same sinfully handsome man that had nearly knocked me off my feet not even twenty minutes ago outside this very establishment.

Immediately, my expression tanked, and I ended the call without saying goodbye.

"Hi,” I squeaked.

He chuckled at my expression.

"I would usually apologise for being late, but we both know that you don't take well to apologies. Though, I am curious to see if you'll shoot me the bird again."

“How much of that did you hear?” I asked in a small voice, trying to hold back the flush that threatened to spread over my cheeks and give me away. I just hoped the concealer I blended in this morning would be enough to hide the embarrassing red tinge.

"Pretty much all of it,” he chuckled and slipped his hands into his pockets. His deep green eyes were nothing short of mesmerising, and I was having a hard time looking away. “I’ve been standing behind you since you decide to rule me off as your soulmate. I have to admit, that hurt my feelings a little. It was kind of harsh. You don’t even know me yet. How do you know I’m not your soulmate?"

“You weren’t supposed to hear that,” I replied sheepishly, but he only smirked in response. “What? Why are you smirking at me?”

“Nothing,” he chuckled and shrugged, but his gaze remained unwavering. “You were pretty mouthy outside when I was on my jog. What’s changed now? Cat got your tongue?”

“What do you want me to say?” I pursed my lips, my mood dampening at his condescending tone.

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