That drew my gaze to hers.
Eilidh stared back, expression fierce. “I’m telling you to go find her.”
My heart rate increased at the thought. “What?”
“Go find Callie. See if what you had is still there. Because if what you feel for her isn’t true love, big brother, I’m not sure I know what is.”
A sudden deluge of grief crashed down on me. “It’s not. Iwas just … tonight made me nostalgic. Anyway, even if I did feel that way, and I’m not saying I do, she’s moved on. With a Frenchman.”
“Gabriel.”
I raised an eyebrow.
Eilidh licked her lips nervously. “Callie and I still talk. We’re still friends.”
“Oh.”
“I’m sorry. I should have told you. I … I never know if I should mention her or not.”
I smiled wryly. “Hasn’t stopped you before.”
“I didn’t want to hurt you.”
“You being friends with Callie doesn’t hurt me.” Though it filled me with a million questions. How was she? How had the last seven years of her life been? Did she even want to live in Ardnoch anymore? Why did she leave when she said she never wanted to? Why … why did she leave when she couldn’t leave for me?
“Well … her boyfriend’s name is Gabriel. He’s a police officer. They’ve been dating for nine months and?—”
“Eilidh, I don’t want to know about him.” I cut her off. “It’s none of my business.”
My sister fell silent, and I refused to look at her. Sometimes all she had to do was stare into my eyes and she’d know exactly how I was feeling.
“Come to my wrap party next week.”
I was unsurprised by her abrupt subject change. The show Eilidh was on had finished filming its third season. She played a pessimistic, world-weary young Londoner who couldn’t be further from the real Eilidh if she tried. To be honest, I was blown away by her performance. She’d been given some tough scenes to depict, and I was in awe of her talent.
Eilidh started showing an interest in acting at the end ofprimary school. She’d been accepted into Glasgow’s Royal Conservatoire junior summer school throughout her high career. She’d wanted to attend full time, but our parents weren’t happy with her living alone in Glasgow. Eilidh had gotten accepted into the conservatoire as a full-time student at seventeen. Between that and our uncles’ connections, she’d booked several jobs throughout as a teenager and during her time as a university student. Then she landed this part three years ago, and her life changed dramatically.
While it had never been strange for me that people recognized Lachlan and Brodan when we were out and about, it was weird when people recognized Eilidh and acted like they knew her.
She had nearly fivemillionfollowers on social media.
“What?” she asked, frowning.
“Nothing.”
“So, is that a no to my wrap party?”
I didn’t particularly feel like going. I’d been to the last one and felt like a fish out of water. “I’ll be there. Just let me know where and when.”
“Thanks, big brother.” She pushed away from the balcony to hug me. I wrapped my arms around her, and the years seemed to melt away and she was my wee sister who needed a hug every day from everyone she loved. Eilidh had always craved affection. Sometimes I longed for that simpler time. Tenderness filled me, and I kissed the top of her head.
“Your audience awaits,” I teased.
Eilidh pulled back. Her eyes were the exact shade as mine, and I could still see the concern in them. “Love you, Lew.”
“Love you.” I shoved her gently toward the crowd. “Now, go enjoy.”
“You too.” She grabbed my arm, pulling me with her. “This is your graduation party, and I won’t let you mope the night away.”
