Page 38 of Just Like That

‘I’ll manage fine, I’m sure.’

I look at her helplessly. ‘Are you sure you can’t find someone else to help out last minute?’

‘Na-ah.’ Lauren shakes her head. ‘It’s too late. They’d have to complete the self-assessment and I’ve already done the matches.’

‘But surely then that means I don’t have time to—oh.’ I realise she’s got me hook, line and sinker.

‘I’ve got your completed version from when you were testing it out earlier.’ She winces as she says this.

‘Oh, you wee bugger.’ I rub my hot face, feeling caught out. ‘Did you plan this?’

‘I didn’t, I promise. I couldn’t find someone to fill the final space and then when I was doing the matches, I saw your completed questionnaire from earlier. Please, Jess.Please?It’s purely for the process. Everyone here tonight knows that it isn’t about actual dating.’

‘Well, that’s a good thing, because with our pilot participants being a bunch of uni students, I’m hardly age appropriate for this event.’

‘Oh don’t worry, it’s a part time Masters course. My classmates are all studying and working like me. They’re not a bunch of eighteen- and nineteen-year-olds, they’re mainly around my age or a bit older.’

I ignore this comment. ‘Plus, I wasn’t actually paying much attention when I was answering the questions, so who knows what my personality type has come out as.’

‘Actually, the best way to answer the questions is not to overthink them. Your first instinct is generally the right one…’ She shrinks down in response to my glare.

Lauren continues to watch me hopefully. I really,reallywant to say no to this. Not only am I mortified at the thought of it getting around the park, it also feels quite inappropriate given my role here – even if it is just a test run. That said, my roleisto turn the fortunes of the park around, and I did just agree with Nick that I need to do that with bells on to show Craig what he’s missing. Experiencing the event first-hand will help me fine tune it to perfection, and that’s surely more important than my pride.

I let out a resigned sigh. ‘Fine. I’ll do it. But you owe me big for this.’

‘Absolutely. Thank you.’ Lauren jumps up and unexpectedly hugs me. ‘You’re a star.’

Or a fool, I think to myself, as a feeling of utter dread washes over me.

An hour later, our pretend-daters are milling around the outdoor seating area, enjoying the canapés and drinks that Serge has put on for them. It seems that most of them know each other, which makes sense, given they’re at uni together. There are also two members of the park staff, whom I recognise as being from Lauren and Nick’s teams, as well as Monika, who have all been roped into taking part. Unlike me, they seem to be taking it in their stride and are making an effort to get involved in the chat.

‘Why don’t you go and join them?’ Serge gives me a nudge and a wink. ‘Your soulmate might be in that group. Go find him before someone else steals him away.’

‘Ha ha, you’re hilarious.’ I shoot him a withering look, which makes him bellow with laughter.

‘Serge, quit it,’ Lauren commands. ‘The more you do that, the more Jess is going to raise my debt to her for this.’

‘Damn right,’ I mutter.

She claps her hands together, ready for action. ‘Shall we get this show on the road then?’

‘If we must.’

Lauren doesn’t miss a beat, and within about a minute, she has everyone seated and listening attentively. She then does a quick count and looks around her.

‘Hmm… seems we’re still waiting for one person… ah, there you are.’

I turn to see who she’s talking to and my jaw drops as a glowering Nick skulks into the picnic area, triggering a few shared looks from the female daters, who clearly like what they see.

‘Good to see you, Nick.’ Lauren offers him a smile that’s not returned. ‘Thanks so much for helping us out.’

He slips into the seat next to mine, raising a judgemental eyebrow at me, which is hardly justified given he’s here for the exact same reason I am.

‘I was guilted into this,’ I whisper, as Lauren kicks off her welcome to the group. ‘What’s your excuse?’

‘Gwen promised me a new pressure washer for cleaning out the enclosures if I helped out. The one I’m using is faulty and cuts out half the time.’

‘So, bribery then. Good morals your colleagues have.’

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