Blind Dating the Alpha Prince

2 - A Date

~~Quinn's PoV~~

I have just put Rosemary down in her crib when my doorbell rings. Immediately she startles and starts to cry again, and I feel like crying too.

“You and me both, kiddo,” I tell her as I scoop her back up and head to the door, trying to soothe her as I undo the chain and turn the bolt before opening up the door.

“What's wrong with Rosie?” my best friend Naya asks as she walks in, perfectly dressed and made up as always. She takes my daughter from my arms before I can protest, slipping off her high heels and heading into the living room.

“The doorbell woke her up,” I say grumpily. “How many times do I have to say it, Naya? Just knock.”

“Sorry.” She looks truly apologetic as she gives me a sheepish smile. “I forgot.”

I sigh but I let it go. I know she didn't mean to make things harder for me. Naya never means to cause any trouble, she just can't help it sometimes.

We've been best friends since we were babies and we always planned on having our own babies together too. When we met our mates at the same ball just over a year ago, we thought all our dreams were coming true. But fifteen months later, Naya's still not pregnant, despite all her and Salazar's best attempts, and while I've got the baby, that's all I've got.

Secretly I think we both envy each other, but I know she wouldn't give up Salazar for anything, and I wouldn't trade Rosemary for anything either, not even to feel Ethan's strong arms around me again, as much as I feel like I'll die without it some days. 

I blink back tears at the thought of my mate. I must be more tired than I realized. Usually I can keep my emotions under better control. I've spent the last year learning to control myself, not to let my sadness overwhelm me. My daughter deserves better than that.

“So what's up?” I ask as we go into the living room of my small apartment. Rosemary is still fussing a bit, but Naya is happy to hold onto her so I take a rare moment to sit by myself.

“You are going on a date!” she announces.

That must be a joke, so I laugh. “A date with my bed sounds perfect right about now.”

She scrunches up her nose at me. “No, a real date, with a real man. It's already planned. I'll watch Rosemary, you don't have to worry about a thing.”

Is she serious? “Naya, I'm not interested in dating anyone.” 

“That's only because you're scared,” she insists. “I know it's going to be weird, but you can't sit alone in this apartment forever, Quinn! You're still young and you deserve to have love in your life again.”

We've had this discussion before but she's never gone so far as to actually set me up on a date before. “Who am I supposed to be dating?”

“Well, I don't exactly know,” she admits. “It's kind of a mystery.”

“What?” This is sounding more unbelievable by the second.

“I saw it on Mate-Match,” she explains, naming the most popular dating app at the moment. “There's a man whose profile picture is just him in a mask, and there's a ridiculously long questionnaire you have to fill out if you want to go on a date with him. Everyone's talking about it. He must be someone really important!”

“Or just a total weirdo who doesn't want to show his face,” I point out. It sounds crazy to me, or maybe just a really smart marketing strategy. As gimmicks go, it's not a bad one, but it doesn't mean I'm interested.

“Well, Danielle and Marietta both tried and they weren't accepted,” she tells me, naming two of our other mutual friends who are still waiting to meet their mates. “But I filled it out with your information and you were offered a date!”

“What did you say about me?” I'm almost afraid to ask, but I need to know.

“Just the truth,” she insists. “That you're smart, funny, kind, beautiful, and mother to the sweetest little girl who ever lived.”

She nuzzles into Rosemary's face as she says the last bit, and my daughter yawns back sleepily, looking about as impressed with the whole thing as I am.

“You actually told him about Rosemary?” I have to admit I'm surprised. I would have thought that would send most guys running in the opposite direction.

“I did,” she confirms. “And he's ready to meet you tonight.”

“Wait, tonight?” My voice comes out as a surprised squeak.

“Oh, didn't I mention that?” she asks innocently.

“No, you most certainly did not! Naya, I can't go on a date tonight. Look at me!”

There are milk stains on my shirt, my hair hasn't been properly washed in three days and I can't even remember the last time I put on make-up. Even if I was interested in going out, which I'm not, there's no way I could.

“You're beautiful,” she promises me. “A shower and a shave, and you'll be ready to go.”

“A shave?” I repeat. “Naya, I'm not sleeping with him!”

“You never know,” she teases, giving me a wink. “Now come on and go get started. Rosie and I will chill right here.”

I open my mouth to protest but then I close it again. I'm too tired to argue with her, and a shower does sound kind of amazing right now, and the more I think about it, so does a dinner out. I guess I could at least start getting ready. It doesn't mean I'm actually going to go.

Clinging to that thought, I head for the bathroom.