And I watch him shut down.
Like a book snapping closed.
Like a door locking.
The armor slides back into place piece by piece until the vulnerable Finn from thirty seconds ago disappears completely.
“I… I should go,” he says, his tone neutral again. “I’ve got patients this afternoon.”
“Finn…”
“I’ll stop by tonight to check on him.”
He leaves before I can say anything else.
The door shuts behind him with a final click.
I stay there alone in the clinic while Ragnar lies on his blanket.
The sheep stares at me.
I stare back.
“You did that on purpose, didn’t you?”
Ragnar bleats once.
Then closes his eyes, looking deeply satisfied with himself.
Fantastic.
Even the sheep thinks getting close to Finn is a terrible idea.
Finn left.
Again.
And I no longer know whether it’s because he regrets what happened on the terrace last night…
Or because he wanted it to happen again today and Ragnar ruined everything.
That wasn’t just a kiss last night.
This isn’t a fake relationship anymore.
And I have absolutely no idea what I’m supposed to do with that.
Because in a few days, the Highland Games begin.
The entire McGregor family will descend on the village. Maggie will watch us like a hawk. The whole town will be paying attention.
And we’re two people who can’t even pretend anymore because everything became too real, too fast, too intense.
I look at Ragnar.
“If you have any more brilliant ideas for sabotaging my life, please don’t hold back.”
The sheep opens one eye, looks at me, then closes it again.
