“I am. I want to be better. I want to stay sober. It sucks that I can feel everything clearer now that I’m not numb to my emotions, but the therapist is helping me through it.” Guess there isn’t much more for me to say. “Give me time, and I’ll show you I’ve changed.”
“Time will tell, I guess. Merry Christmas, Chance,” I tell him as I walk away.
82
DERRICK
Scotland looks like something out of a Gothic fantasy. Cold. Crisp. Gorgeous. The mood lighting, the low-hanging clouds, and the once green rolling hills are now stark white. You can see the specks of homes dotted along the hills lit up like twinkling fairy lights, the icy winding roads have me holding onto Charlie in a death grip while Rowan navigates the turns like a rally driver.
Then we turn off the main road and head down a long road through the darkness, the daylight fading fast as snow starts to flutter down. Apparently, this is their holiday home, Rowan says his parents live in Edinburgh most of the time, but they use this for holiday celebrations. But when Rowan said home, he didn’t mention it was a fricken castle as we come around the bend and see the imposing stone structure. I forget that the boys are gentry, that this is normal for them.
Charlie squeezes my hand in the back of the car. “You’re going to be fine,” he murmurs.
“I’m not nervous,” I lie.
He smirks. “D, your knee has been bouncing since we turned off the road.”
Fair.
Meeting your boyfriend’s family is one thing. Meeting your brand-new brothers’ family? The ones your own family fucked up is another.
So, yeah, my stomach is doing backflips.
We pull up along the circular drive, and Rowan welcomes us. As soon as the car stops, the front door bursts open.
“Shit, looks like Mum couldn’t wait.” Rowan grimaces as a gorgeous dark-haired woman rushes out dressed in green velvet. Rowan opens his door, and she hugs him tightly.
“You’re home.” She cuddles him tightly even though he towers over her. You can feel the love from that hug all the way through the car.
“It’s good to be home, sorry I missed Christmas.”
“Pish posh, you’re here now, that is all that matters,” she tells him as she kisses his cheeks.
Charlie opens the car door and helps me out of my safe cocoon, the action pulls Davina’s attention from her son.
“Oh! Oh, look at him!” Davina gasps. “He looks like you, Rowan.”
“I know, Mum.”
“Can I give you a hug?” she asks.
“Of course,” I answer, stepping into her arms, which are warm and loving as she embraces me.
“And is this your partner?” she asks.
“Hi, I’m Charlie, ma’am,” he says, holding out his hand for her, she ignores it and pulls him into a hug too.
“Sorry, Mum is a hugger.” Rowan smirks.
“Rowan, you made it.” A handsome older gentleman with a thick Scottish accent calls out as he hugs Rowan. Guess the family are all huggers.
“Guys, they're here,” I hear Callum call out as he rushes out of the front door and almost barrels me over in a hug, and then does the same to Charlie. He flips off Rowan.
“Derrick, welcome, it is so nice to finally get to meet you,” Lord Fraser says, greeting me with a handshake.
“Thank you so much for having us.”
“Anytime, you’re family,” he says, giving me a warm smile.
