"Your parents sound almost as obsessed about setting you up with someone as my parents are with my brother."
“They’re both definitely on par with each other.”
“Let me guess. My brother was one of these blind dates?” Cillian chuckled, amused.
"Yes, unfortunately,” I sighed, trying to ignore the itch to lean over to Cillian and whisper the truth. “He was my tenth date this month.”
“Saving the best till last?”
“I wouldn’t put it quite like that.”
“And you’ll have to go on another ten blind dates in November?”
I nodded. “And every other month after that until I find someone.”
“You know, you could put a stop to all of this if you just decide to give my brother a chance.” His eyes shone with amusement. “The two of you are more compatible than you think. You’re both just too stubborn to admit it.”
"Don’t tell me you believe that as well," I groaned, but it wasn't nearly as bad or heartfelt as it would have been if Cedric and I hadn’t agreed to explore things between us.
"I'm not going to sugarcoat it," he chuckled. "I know the two of you are always at each other's throats and that you can't stand each other, but I really do think the both of you are so perfect for each other. Like everyone else, it boggles my mind that the two of you don't see it. I mean, you've already slept together. That's half of the work, right?"
“Not so loud!” I whispered harshly, frantically glancing around the table in the hope that no one had heard. When none of our parents turned to send us a funny look or started to prematurely celebrate, I exhaled in relief before turning to send Cillian a harsh glare.
"Oh, was I too loud?" He smiled innocently, but I saw right through it.
None of the Barlowes were innocent.
Five minutes passed, and while Cedric wasn't here yet, the waiter was. He went around the table to take our orders, and I ordered the same thing I always did for the Sunday roast. I fought off the temptation to ask Yasmin to order extra roast potatoes for Cedric so he wouldn’t steal mine like last time.
"Oh, Cedric, honey,” Yasmin called out, her cheerful voice drawing my attention to the last of our party that had finally arrived. "You've just missed the waiter again. But don’t worry, I ordered for you."
"You ordered without me again?" Cedric groaned in dismay. He then glanced around the table, pretending to look surprised at the sight of my parents and me. I held back a snicker at his sub-par acting. I definitely had him beat in that department. “Wait, what are you guys doing here?"
"Is that how you speak to our friends, Cedric?" Yasmin frowned, displeased.
"Don't worry about it, Yasmin.” Mum waved a dismissive hand in the air. "Saffron was the same when she walked in. These kids don't believe they're a good match for each other, but they literally reacted the same way. Maybe if you stop arguing so much, you'll be able to see just how right we are."
“Sorry,” Cedric apologised. “I’m just surprised to see that we have company for dinner again this week.”
“We had just sat down when Don and Clarke walked in. It was a complete coincidence,” Alfie told his son, not even glancing up from the game. “Right, Don?”
Dad nodded. “It’s a very happy coincidence made even happier when we decided to upgrade the table and sit together.”
Their responses sounded rehearsed, and I wouldn’t be surprised if that were the case.
"That's great, but where do I sit?" He frowned, turning his accusatory eyes on Cillian who merely grinned back at his brother.
“We thought you and Saffron could get a table of your own since you two were the last to arrive,” Yasmin said with an innocent look on her face. “But since she’s already sat down, I guess you’ll just have to squeeze in between Saffron and Cillian. We wouldn’t want you to sit alone at a table.”
I wasn't the least bit surprised, but when Cillian’s jaws dropped, and a flabbergasted expression took over his face, his mouth opening and closing like a blowfish, it was all I could to stop myself from bursting out laughing.
Cedric may be good at a lot of things, but acting certainly wasn’t one of them. And it appeared his brother was just as bad.
“There’s hardly any space between us,” Cillian complained, gesturing between us. “There’s no way he’s going to fit.”
“I agree it’s a terrible idea, but I guess I don't have any other choice," Cedric grumbled and grabbed a chair from another table, slotting it between Cillian and me. He fist-bumped his brother before he turned to me, a small, knowing smirk on his face as he pretended that this was the first time that we had seen each other today. We certainly weren’t cuddling in bed this morning or anything. "Fancy running into you here, Saffron," he grinned, playfully bumping his knee against mine. With how close we were sitting next to each other, it didn't take much effort at all.
Since Cillian refused to budge, Cedric and I were nearly sharing a place setting at the table. I was surprised I didn't mind all that much. Although to keep up pretences, I made a show of huffing and rolling my eyes, subtly leaning away from him as well.