Page 62 of The Blind Date

“Let’s talk about it later, okay?” I tried to reason with him.

Cedric stuffed his hands into his pockets. “I wonder if later will ever come.”

I opened and closed my mouth, but no words came out. I wasn't sure why I was surprised by his attitude. It wasn't like we had ever gotten along. Sure, we had slept together, but perhaps that was a lapse of judgement on both our parts. Or perhaps, that was just what I was telling myself to feel better.

When I turned to glance to my left, Cillian frowned and gestured to me with his hands. When my eyebrows furrowed together, he visibly huffed and tried again. This time, I deciphered his lewd-looking hand gestures as encouragement for me to try speaking to his brother again.

Sighing, I turned to do just that, but instead of trying to sort things out with Cedric, I cheered as Alfie got a hole in one. It was especially impressive because he had scored on a par-three hole.

When my parents and the Barlowes said that they had gotten good at the sport in the past few months, I didn’t think it was to this level.

Thoughts of Cedric and the many things we needed to discuss after I had behaved as if he didn't exist these past few days drifted to the back of my mind, and I watched as Dad stepped up to play, then Yasmin and then Mum. Alfie was by far the best. He scored two more holes in one of the remaining nine courses. Dad and Yasmin were good, but it was Mum that I was truly proud of. She gave Alfie a run for his money as she managed two holes in one, and then the others all under three shots.

After that play, the three of us–Cillian, Cedric and I–had subconsciously drifted back to each other. We had all been hopeful that the Remington-Barlowes would score low, but we didn’t expect them to come second in the competition and qualify for the semi-finals in three weeks.

Much to my dismay, the Wheeler-Jones came first. I wouldn't have minded as much if they weren't such bad sports and gloated as much as they did.

“I can’t believe this!” I cheered as all the players disbanded and headed to their friends and family supporting them in the crowd, including our parents. “I can’t believe you qualified for the semi-finals!”

“I know you said you guys were good, but I have to admit, I didn’t believe you." Cillian laughed, moving to hug Yasmin.

"Mum, Dad," I grinned, pulling them both in for a group hug. "You guys were so amazing out there."

“I was all right, Saff, but your mum,” Dad turned to face her with a big smile. The pride radiated off him in waves. “Your Mum was so amazing! She got two holes in one!”

I grinned and gave them another hug, so proud of them for making it this far in the competition. I congratulated Yasmin and Alfie but took a step back when some of the other contestants came over to talk to them. Cillian had managed to sneak away in the middle of this somehow, and when I looked around for him, he was chatting up some girl who looked like she was ready to eat him alive.

That meant that I was left with Cedric to keep me company.

"You said you wanted to talk later," I murmured, my voice laced with hesitation. "Is now a good time?"

Cedric pursed his lips and nodded, a dark cloud hanging over his head. We were the first people to head off the field and to the pavilion. At least that would give us some privacy to talk.

“You’ve been ignoring my texts and dodging my calls. Why have you been avoiding me, darling?” Cedric asked, going straight for the bullseye.

"Because I didn't know what to say to you," I admitted in a small voice.

“And now you do?”

“Not really, but it’s much more difficult to avoid you when you’re standing right in front of me.”

His lips curled up in a ghost of a smile, but he still didn't look amused.

"All you had to do was text me that you needed some time to think."

“You’re right,” I sighed, apologetic. "I should have been honest with you.”

“It definitely would have made things easier.”

I nodded. “I’m sorry for being so childish about this all.”

"Quite ironic, don't you think?" He chuckled.

“Why?”

"Since you're always harping on at me about me being the childish one."

“I think I used the term ‘dramatic’.”

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