Page 67 of An Irish Hope

“Exactly.”

Oh.

“Where were you tonight, anyway?” he asked tiredly.

“I forgot I had other plans.”

“And you didn’t think to tell me? Grand friend you are.” Grady’s earlier words finally lodged in his brain. “Wait. What did you mean to say when you said you knew about my date?”

“You and Aisling.”

“What?”

“You and Aisling,” Grady repeated. “The blind date.”

His mouth fell open. “You set me up on a blind date with her?”

“Well, technically speaking, it was her aunt who asked my mom—they’re good friends—and I switched you for me, and told her to use my middle name.”

“You’re telling me you knew Aisling was going to be there?”

“I know. It was part of my grand plan that you’d see what a pain Greta is and you’d want Aisling instead.”

“She was there waiting for a guy called Drew to show up, and he never did.”

“Grady Drew Wayne didn’t show up, no. But you did.”

“She saw me with Greta earlier, which only made things worse.”

“Oh. Are you trying to tell me it didn’t work?”

“It didn’t work,” he snarled. “She as good as told me she never wants to see me again.”

“Ah. That’s not ideal.”

“You think?” He closed his eyes, exhaled slowly.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t realise.”

“Well, now you know. And now I don’t know what I can do to fix things with her.”

“I thought you didn’t want to date.”

“That’s beside the point,” he snapped.

“Is it, indeed?” Grady smirked.

Andy’s fingers clenched. “Why did you set me up on one?”

“Because I’m an eejit?”

“Yes, you are!” Resentment, so quick to flare, as quickly faded. “But I appreciate the thought.”

“Well, it’s the thought that counts, isn’t it?”

“Not always, no.”

“What can I do?” Grady asked in a small voice.