Page 97 of The Blind Date

“Wow, Owen!” I exclaimed in pleasant surprise. “That’s so great! I’m so happy for you!”

“Me too.” He couldn’t keep the large cheesy grin off his face. “I’m just trying to hold myself back from going too fast and scaring her off. I really like her.”

“I’m sure she feels the same way as you, so you probably don’t have anything to worry about.”

"Fingers crossed," Owen grinned and mimicked the motion with his fingers. "Now, back to you. Should we get some dinner and talk about the trouble in your paradise?"

“Only if you tell me more about this lucky lady of yours,” I countered, my lips twitching higher at the corners.

"You've got yourself a deal.”

* * *

Sittingin an Italian restaurant getting a late dinner with Owen on a Friday night wasn't exactly what I depicted as a great way to start the weekend, but it was a pleasant surprise. It was also a welcomed distraction.

"So, what's his name?" Owen asked as soon as the waiter left the table with our orders. A lasagne for Owen and tomato pasta for me.

“Cedric,” I told him, unable to stop my lips from stretching into a large grin.

"How long have you two known each other?"

“I want to know about you and your lucky lady first.” I shook my head, refusing to make it too easy for him.

He playfully narrowed his eyes at me. “But I asked first.”

"And I asked second.” I quirked a daring brow, refusing to budge. "It's the only way you're going to get me to talk, Owen."

“Fine, I’ll go first,” he chuckled. “What do you want to know?”

“What’s her name?” I asked, leaning forward to rest my elbows on the table. Eager.

"Lucinda," Owen said, and just like me, a large grin took over his face at the mere mention of his significant other.

“That name sounds like it belongs to an evil witch, but it’s still pretty.”

"That's exactly what I said on our first date!"

“How did she take it?”

“She said she gets it all the time.”

"How did you meet?" I asked curiously.

"My brother set me up on a blind date, funnily enough. Lucy is the sister of one of his friends.” His lips twitched even higher at the corners.

"A blind date?" I couldn't help but laugh. I still hated the idea of a blind date, but so far, it had proved effective.

“Funny, right?”

“Very funny, indeed.” I nodded. “What was your first date like?”

“Magical.” He beamed from ear to ear. “My brother suggested that we join him and his friends clubbing so it wouldn’t be too awkward.”

“Let me guess. That just made things so much more awkward?”

“Like you wouldn’t have guessed,” he scoffed. “Somehow, it was impossible to get to know each other between all the sweaty, gyrating bodies on the dance floor. We ended up ditching them to get dinner and then catch a late movie. After that, I guess you could say that the rest is history.”

"That's sweet.” I put my hand over my melting heart.

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