Kismetology Read Online Free Page B

cheap ones…"
    "Mum!"
    "Eleanor."
    "Fine. Eleanor. I’m not going to discuss my
contraception issues with you. I have some good news for you. Do you want to
know or would you rather give me a rundown of Durex versus Trojan?"
    She sighs dramatically. "Fine, fine. Go ahead."
    "You have a date."
    "A date?"
    "Yep, on Sunday night. He’s called Jeff. He’s my friend
from work’s father. You remember Jenni, right? The hairdresser? Well, her
father is lovely and I want you to meet him."
    "Why?"
    "Because I think you’ll get on really well. He likes
dogs and gardening, and he’s very cute and charming."
    "But why? Why would I want to go on a date with someone
I’ve never met?"
    "Because it’ll be fun. And it’ll be good for you to
meet new people. And Jeff really is lovely. Besides, it’s all arranged. You
can’t back out now."
    "But… But… How will I know him?"
    "I’m going to drive you there. It’s a lovely
restaurant, just off South Bank Street. I’ll wait with you until Jeff shows up,
and he’ll bring you home afterwards. See? Perfect."
    "What if I hate him and don’t want him to bring me
home?"
    "Then you call me and I’ll come and get you. Or you get
a taxi. But you’ll like him, trust me."
    "Mackenzie, I’m too old for this blind dating stuff
that you young people are so fond of."
    "I thought you wanted to be twenty-seven."
    "Look, we both know I’m not twenty-seven."
    "Good, because then you’d have given birth to me when
you were minus two years old."
    "Right. But Mac, I haven’t been on a date in… Well,
it’s embarrassing to admit how long. I can’t just turn up there and charm him
like it’s the most natural thing in the world."
    "One—he hasn’t dated in years either, and two—he’s a
great guy and you’ll really like him. Seriously, you’ll be at ease within
seconds."
    "What about Baby? He’ll be lonely on his own."
    "I’m sure he’ll manage for a couple of hours."
    "Can he stay with you?"
    "No! My plants will never forgive me."
    "I don’t know why you let that boyfriend of yours talk
you into buying plants, they always die, like that big thing in the corner of
your living room."
    "It would still be alive today if your little dog
hadn’t peed on it. But that’s not the point. The point is, you’re going on
Sunday, even if I have to drag you there. I promise you’ll enjoy it."
    "Well, what does he look like?"
    "He’s tall, with dark hair and nice blue eyes. You’ll
like him."
    "I prefer blonds."
    "As do gentlemen," I sigh. "If he’s a nice
guy, why does his hair colour matter?"
    She shrugs. "All right, all right. I’ll go. But what
should I wear?"
    "We’ll find something," I tell her. "I’ll
come over tomorrow and we’ll have a look through your closet, okay?"
    She nods.
    Finally.
     
    "Well, that was hard work." I flop down on the
sofa next to Dan when I finally get home.
    "How’d it go?" He kisses the top of my head.
    "Fine. Jeff was nice, and Mum took a bit of persuasion
but not as much as I thought, actually."
    "That’s promising."
    "It is. I have to go over there tomorrow and help her
find something to wear."
    "Oh." Dan looks dejected. "I have the day off
from work. I thought we could do something tomorrow."
    "We still can. I’ll go over there in the morning."
    "Mac, this is your mother we’re talking about here.
She’ll do anything she can to keep you there all day. Looking through her
closet will turn into an all day shopping trip to buy Baby seven new
outfits."
    I sigh. "Yeah, you’re probably right. But just think of
the result. If I’m right with this idea, Dan, she’ll be so busy dating that
she’ll probably forget you and I exist."
    "Yeah, right."
    "Don’t be pessimistic. It’ll work."
    "I actually wanted to talk to you about this whole you
meeting the guys first thing."
    I glance up at him. "You’re not jealous of some old
guys twice your age, are you?"
    "No. I just don’t like you being out alone with strange
men, and I had an idea about