“Sorry to break this up, you two, but we need to get moving,” Brodie calls.Over Graeme’s shoulder, Drew motions to the sign indicating the ten-minute limit for cars to stop here for pick-up.
I don’t meet Graeme’s eyes as he releases me.I can’t.That doesn’t stop him from ushering me toward the van with his hand on the small of my back.“Sit up front with me?”It’s a question, but he doesn’t wait for a response before he catches Brodie’s attention and says, “I need to speak to you for a minute before we get going.”
I pause outside the passenger side door when I realize my heart is pounding.I suck in a breath, but it doesn’t have the same cleansing effect it did when we first stepped out of the airport.I tell myself it’s because of the gasoline fumes lingering in the air, and has absolutely nothing to do with the tall, dark, and handsome Scot who’s owned a piece of my heart since the day we met.
CHAPTER SEVEN ~ GRAEME ~ NOW
“We have a problem.”
My serious tone does nothing to wipe the smile from my brother’s face.“Just what you want to hear only moments after arriving on holiday.”
I huff out a laugh.“Sorry, but there’s no time to beat around the bush.”I eye a nearby parking attendant who’s scanning the area while moving closer to the van.“There’s been a leak in the room Abby and Fern were meant to stay in at Mum and Dad’s.”
Brodie’s smile disappears as his eyebrows bounce toward his hairline.“Well, shit.The joys of owning a four-hundred-year-old building, eh?What are we going to do?”
“It only affected half the room, so one of the beds is fine,” I tell him.“Mum suggested one or both of the girls stay with me, depending on their preference.She figured you and Drew would want to stay with them since you have things to discuss.”
“Right.”Brodie bobs his head absently, his gaze fixed on something behind me.“Right.Okay, well, why not see if Abby wants to stay with you?I’m sure you two have a lot of catching up to do, plus she’s stayed with you before.”
Something clenches in my gut.Having Abby stay with me makes the most sense.And Fern, of course, if she wants to, but she and Abby would have to share a bed since my spare room only has a double.When Mum called late last night about the leak, I almost laughed, even though it’s not remotely funny.Considering the way I’d been hemming and hawing about things since Brodie and Drew filled me in on their plans for a group trip to Scotland, the leak felt like the universe’s way of shoving Abby and me together.
I thought about texting Abby once the others revealed the big surprise.It seemed like a good idea to open the doors of communication before seeing each other since we haven’t exchanged more than a few messages for the last several years.I chickened out, though, convincing myself it’d be better to reconnect in person.
I also toyed with the idea of only staying in Edinburgh long enough to see everyone and then making some excuse about needing to go to Skye.The last thing I want is to make Abby uncomfortable, yet it’d be impossible to avoid her, considering Brodie is my brother and they’re all staying with our parents.Ultimately, I decided I’d feel her out, see how things were between us, and if there was a chance we could rekindle our friendship and get back to how things used to be.We were best friends once, and we always promised each other we’d stay that way, even after we crossed the line into...whatever we ended up as.Lovers, yes, but it was so much more than that.
I sigh, scrubbing a hand over the stubble on my jaw.“Aye, we’ll run it by them and see what they say.Dad thinks we should stall until things are ready at home so they’re not thrust into chaos upon arrival.He’s working to clean up their spare room while Mum tackles mine.I’ve been using it as a catch-all since I moved back from Skye, so it’s a disaster.She said she’d text me when it’s habitable.”
I lock eyes with the parking attendant, who jerks her chin toward the van.I give her a nod, and murmur to Brodie that it’s time to go.
I climb into the driver’s side, pleased when Abby offers me a tentative smile.Picking the van up from Rab this morning was like entering a time machine; the interior is exactly the same as it was all those years ago, down to the Highland Breeze air freshener hanging from the rearview mirror, and the underlying sweet scent of tobacco clinging to the upholstery from Rab’s smoking habit.For a moment, I could have sworn I smelled Abby’s light floral scent, even though I knew my mind was playing tricks on me.I smell it now, though, and it’s so achingly familiar it makes my chest tight.
The sight of her in that seat, especially wearing a red jacket so similar to the one she wore throughout her uni days, gives me that time machine feeling again.I can clearly picture her riding in the front with me during road trips, talking with the others in the back, all smiles and delighted giggles.Her camera was constantly poised, ready to capture whatever caught her eye.Her beautiful face was alight with wonder every time I looked at her.If I hadn’t already been hopelessly in love with her, I would have fallen headfirst solely from her reactions to seeing my homeland.
“All right, you lot,” I say as I pull away from the pick-up area and navigate out of the airport.I catch Brodie’s eye in the rearview mirror, and he gives me a nod.“I know you might want to get to MacKinlay Tower and get settled, but I also know the coffee on your flight was likely shite, so you’re probably in need of caffeine.”
There’s a chorus of agreements from all four of my passengers.A glance in Abby’s direction shows her eyes glued to the front window, even though there’s not much to see yet.The trio in the back keep up a steady stream of chatter on the half-hour drive into the city.My eye is drawn regularly to Abby, whose head swivels between the windshield and the passenger window.Her lips are curved in a tiny smile, and I swear she barely blinks as she eagerly takes everything in.There’s no sight of the camera the others gave her as an early birthday gift, but she snaps the occasional photo on her phone.
