Page 48 of The Blind Date

"You've got a point there," he chuckled. "Who would have thought after our disastrous date on Friday, we’d be sitting in your apartment right now eating pizza with a fully functioning boiler?”

"Definitely not me," I snorted. "I'm so glad I'm done with the dates for this month. I don't think I'd be able to handle another one. It's like my parents are obsessed with me settling down with someone and giving them dozens of grandchildren. As if that’s the only way I’ll ever be happy.”

“In their defence, I think most parents are like that. Mine definitely are.”

“But surely, ours are so much worse.”

“From an outsider’s perspective, I think they’re just worried that we’ll end up sad and alone for the rest of our lives. But on the inside, it’s so damn annoying having to go through with all of this.”

“You can say that again,” I groaned.

"And what's up with all the golf?" Cedric asked suddenly. "Why are they suddenly so obsessed with it?”

“I have no idea,” I laughed and shook my head. “Have you heard? They’ve somehow managed to get themselves into the quarterfinals in a golfing competition.”

"Yes," he nodded, a humoured grin on his face. "I'm supposed to come down and watch their next game, but I don't even know how golf works."

"Me neither, but it should be a laugh."

“You’ll be there too?”

"I told my parents I would be. Besides, I'm curious to see just how good they are."

“I think my parents have roped in my brother to come to watch them play too.”

"Have your parents started worrying about him ending up sad and alone yet as well?" I joked. I had to admit, I was intrigued to meet the other Barlowe brother. I wondered if he was like his brother. If he was, then no wonder Alfie and Yasmin were worried about their sons' futures.

"Luckily for him, no,” Cedric laughed. “But he is also still in university, so I guess he has a few good years before they start on him."

“Tell me about the worst date they’ve set you up on.”

"I will if you will, darling,” he agreed.

"Deal. You can go first, but I suspect we’ll need some drinks to get through this.” I headed to the kitchen. "Beer good for you, or do you only drink white wine?"

"Beer is great, thanks," he laughed. "I thought I noticed you turn your nose up at my white wine the other night. What’s the deal with that?"

“You just look so pretentious when you drink it,” I told him, returning with two cold beers.

"Just white wine, or does me drinking other coloured wines also bother you?"

“I’m not sure.”

“Then I guess we’ll have to test the theory next time.”

“Maybe. Now stop stalling and tell me about the worst blind date your parents have set you up on.”

"Well, other than you, I can think of one," Cedric teased. “My parents once set me up with this woman they said was a doctor."

“Let me guess, she wasn’t a doctor?” I chuckled, already able to imagine where this story was going.

"Just wait until you hear it," he paused to laugh at the memory, though I doubt he was laughing much at the time. "This was last year, so I've had some time to get over the shock. I was really annoyed with my parents about it at first, but now, it's a funny story I can tell at parties. As usual, my parents were really excited about this woman which automatically told me to lower my expectations. They told me she was a doctor and some other stuff which I later found out was a manipulation of the truth."

“So, what was the truth?”

“That’s the funny part. It turns out that she’s an organ harvester.” He paused to laugh at my horrified expression. “During the entire date, all she wanted to know about was my health, my diet, how much I work out and even my family medical history.”

“That’s so strange,” I whispered, still in shock.

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