I privately agreed with him, but even if we told Ollie about our fake relationship on my social media, he wouldn’t understand if we kissed without a camera pointed at us. I mean, a few weeks into it and even I didn’t fully understand what was going on. We said things that sounded like both of us prepared to confess our mutual love to each other soon, we had great sex, and … This “fake” relationship with Lew was the best relationship I’d ever had. And then there was the flight to Bali that hung over Valentine’s Day like a dark cloud.
No, I’ll worry about that later.
I reached out and squeezed his thigh.
“Let’s go.”
We found Maddie in the staff room where she pored over what looked like the map of the distillery. Her teal hair stuck up like she’d run her hands through it, and she had gorgeous curves she hadn’t had when I’d last seen her, but this was still my old friend.
“Are you sure I’m allowed to go in there?” I asked Lew. “It’s the staff room.”
She looked up at the sound of my voice and jumped up so fast her chair crashed to the floor.
She flung her arms around me as if I’d been missing at sea for years.
“It’s so good to see you,” Maddie sniffed as we hugged.
Tears trickled down my cheeks, but I smiled through them. Over her shoulder, Lew met my eyes and cocked an eyebrow at me.
Told you, Bright, his gaze said.
A big red dog danced around us with its tail wagging.
“It’s so good to see you. Gosh, I’m so sorry I haven’t come over to see you yet. I’ve been so freaking busy.”
“I’ll go check on Perla,” Lew said. He held my eyes for a moment as if he contemplated kissing me but left.
“Do you have time to have a coffee with me?” Maddie asked when we let go of each other. “Or lunch,” she added when she checked her watch. “That damn time blindness.”
“Oh, yeah, sure.” I thought about the invoice from Hamish Grant I still waited for and all the money I’d spent in Kirkmuir. Lew had paid for way more than I was comfortable with, but I’d still spend quite a bit on our trip. I’d just pick the cheapest thing on the menu and a glass of water.
“You need to tell me how you’ve been. And I want to hear everything about Bali and Kirkmuir,” she added after a pregnant pause as she looped her arm around mine.
She knows.
But I really didn’t give a fuck. Mads might have grown up, but I knew her. She’d never say a word to Ollie.
We entered the restaurant a few minutes later. A small crowd was in for an early lunch and Maddie steered me to a table by the window that was out of earshot from the other guests.
“It’s our treat, of course,” she said when we’d taken off our coats and settled in opposite chairs.
“What? Oh, no, it’s—”
“Don’t be daft, Noah,” my old friend shut me down with a snort. “You should have the spare ribs. SweetPea makes his own barbecue sauce, and it’s just so good.”
“If you’re sure it’s okay?”
“No, actually, I’ve changed my mind. I haven’t seen you in fifteen years and just invited you to lunch in our restaurant. Please pay for your food.” She giggled. “Of course it’s okay. I insist.”
“I missed you,” I blurted out and laughed along.
“I missed you, too. How have you been? Oh, that’s Madigan, by the way. Fitz got him for me last year.
“Hey, sweetie.” I patted the dog’s head.
“And here comes Clara. Meet Noah, he’s Ollie’s brother and back for a few months.”
“Nice to meet you.” The dark-haired woman beamed at me. “What can I get you?”
