‘On Alex’s what?’
‘Her date. You and Cleo will be double dating them. You’ll be Cleo’s date while Alex and this dude are on their date. That way, if the bloke is a weirdo, you’ll be there to look after her.’
Quinn’s heart dropped. ‘Alex is going on a date tonight?’
He thought back to earlier when she’d told him she had a top secret meeting. Was that the date?
‘Yes, it’s all set up.’
‘But Alex doesn’t want to date anyone right now.’
‘Trust Cleo, she says she has chosen the absolutely perfect man for her.’
‘Does Alex know?’
‘No, she just thinks she’s meeting Cleo.’
‘Shouldn’t we tell her?’
‘And give her a chance to come up with a million reasons why she can’t make it? No way. She needs to get back on the horse, or so Cleo says, and she can’t let those two bad dates put her off.’
‘I don’t think that’s fair,’ Quinn protested. ‘She should be the one to choose who and when she dates, not Cleo.’
‘It’s one drink with a man, and you and Cleo will be there. What’s the worst that could happen?’
Quinn wasn’t sure, but he didn’t have a good feeling about this.
Alex hurried along the road towards Alberto’s ready for her top secret meeting with Cleo. She was running a little late and she hated being late but the meet-and-greet with the reindeers had taken a little longer than she’d thought. Harley’s mum had taken the girls off to their Brownie Christmas party, Quinn had disappeared off to do a favour for Max and she’d hurried as fast as she could down to the main part of the town.
Quinn had been a bit quiet after they’d met the reindeer and she had no idea why. She’d seen him chatting to Max so their conversation might be why he’d been abit withdrawn. She would have to talk to him about it later tonight or, if Max was working at Alberto’s tonight, she might try and have a word with him.
Although, as she soon realised, that wouldn’t be necessary as Quinn was standing outside Alberto’s looking very smart in a suit that seemed to cling to every muscle in his arms and legs. He looked gorgeous.
He saw her and waved.
‘Hey, what are you doing here?’ she asked. ‘I thought you were doing a favour for Max?’
‘I am but… Look, I should have told you before but I only just found out an hour ago when Max asked me to be here and he swore me to secrecy but I don’t think it’s fair for you to walk in there unprepared.’
She frowned. ‘What’s going on?’
‘Cleo has organised a blind date for you. I’m here as her plus one so we can double date with the two of you.’
‘What?’
‘She thinks you need to get back on the horse and that you shouldn’t hide yourself away because of those two bad dates. She didn’t tell you because she knew you wouldn’t want to come.’
‘Well, she’d have been right. She should have asked me, instead of springing it on me.’
‘To be fair, I think she’s only trying to help,’ Quinn said. ‘She doesn’t know that being with Liam has caused you anxiety about dating again and she doesn’t know about us.’
Alex sighed. ‘Look, I’ll just go in there and tell her I’m not interested, you don’t need to worry.’
She opened the door. She was annoyed that Cleo was interfering in her life like this but she knew it came from the best intentions. Cleo had seen her willing to go on those other two dates so she must have thought she was ready. She couldn’t have known that the only reason Alex had gone on those dates was because she’d known she’d never find something serious. That was before she got involved with Quinn, a relationship that would never be casual and that could only be the kind that was big and life-changing and that was what was scaring her.
She walked inside and Quinn followed her. Cleo immediately spotted her and came over to greet her.
‘I’m so glad you’re here. I have a surprise for you.’
