She sighs and pushes her bottom lip out in a pout.“Am I being a buzzkill?”
“Quite frankly, yes,” I say, drawing the desired laugh from her.“I was going to suggest we head home soon, but it looks like the band is coming back for another set, and I want to dance.What do you say?”
As we all rise from the table, I look around for Fern and spot her across the room.She met a Scottish woman named Ailsa earlier, and they got talking about their shared interests.I was going to see if Fern wanted to join us on the dance floor, but she and Ailsa are having an animated conversation over pints of cider.That’s our Fern, making friends wherever she goes.
The band, made up of a guitarist, a fiddler, and an accordion player, is playing a lively tune that’s drawn nearly half the pub onto the small dance floor.Brodie has his arm hooked through Drew’s and is swinging her around while she laughs wildly, her head thrown back, and her dark hair flying around her face.In so many ways, she and Fern couldn’t be more different, but they both know how to have fun and enjoy life.I want to be like that again too: carefree and joyful.Living in the moment.
Those thoughts are at the forefront of my mind when Graeme offers me his hand.“Well, Spicy?Care for a spin around the dance floor?”
I’m about to say I don’t know the steps, but does it really matter?A glance around shows I wouldn’t be the only one, and even if I was, who cares?The place is so packed nobody would notice anyway, and even if they did, it still wouldn’t matter.
Graeme flashes me a proud smile when I place my palm in his.His fingers close around mine, and he spins me so my back is to him.“That’s my girl,” he says directly in my ear before spinning me again.
* * *
“I’msohungry.”
After another hour of dancing and two more drinks, getting up the stairs to Graeme’s flat took Herculean effort.There was a point halfway up when I told him to abandon me and let me sleep in the stairwell.The cold stone floor seemed more appealing in that moment than climbing a single step more, let alone several flights.It took some coaxing and prodding on Graeme’s part, but we made it, and I immediately collapsed in a heap on the bench just inside the door.
“How am I hungry when all I did all day was eat?”I ask.“All Ieverseem to do here is eat.I swear everything tastes better in Scotland.I just really love food, Graeme.”
He laughs under his breath.“I know you do, sweetheart.”
I gasp softly when he kneels in front of me and begins unlacing my boots.“You d-don’t have to do that,” I stammer.
“I seem to remember multiple instances in our uni days when you were so pished after a night out that you fell into bed fully dressed, shoes and all,” Graeme says, mirth dancing in his eyes.
I can’t reply right away.I’m mesmerized by the sight of this gorgeous man on bended knee in front of me.He removes my first boot and straightens my sock before moving on to the other one.When he peers up at me, I shake my head to clear my thoughts, including the pervy ones that have me wondering about what he’s wearing under his kilt.
I loop my arms around my stomach when it gurgles.“We should have stopped at a chippy.Remember the nights we used to go clubbing in Kingston, and Drew always made us stop at that chip truck on the way home?”
“Impossible to forget,” Graeme says.“You three girls would be singing and dancing in the street, shimmying and swinging each other ’round while you ate your chips or hot dogs or whatever.”
“I’d forgotten that part.”My laughter turns into a wistful sigh.“Man, those were the days.You and Brodie hated going out, but you did it for us.I always felt so safe with you watching over us and then making sure we got home okay afterward.”
“I’d have done anything for you.”His voice is so quiet I have to strain to hear him.He pulls off my second boot and tweaks my toes as he looks up at me.“Still would.Unfortunately, I can’t think of any chippies nearby that’d be open this late, but I can make you something to eat.”
“Toast would be nice,” I say.
“With raspberry jam?”
“Yes, please.”
“Do you still like it cut into triangles?”he asks.
I press my lips together and nod, unsure why I feel the need to hide my smile.He helps me to my feet, and I groan at how stiff I already am.He keeps hold of my hand as I stagger down the hall, both of us laughing the whole way.He ducks into the kitchen, and I go into my room, where I collect my sleep clothes before heading for the bathroom to wash my makeup off and change.
When I exit the bathroom a few minutes later, Graeme is just coming out of the kitchen.He’s holding a tray with a plate of toast and two cups of tea.He pauses and smiles when he sees me.
I lift my arms at my sides.“Cinderella has turned back into a pumpkin.Or something.”
“You look just as beautiful now as you did all night.”
My cheeks heat at his earnest tone.I stop in front of him and allow my gaze to roam over him.“So do you.”
One side of his mouth curves.“I especially like your top.”
I’m wearing the same Spice Girls shirt I wore the day we met.I found it during my move from Toronto to Kingston, and packed it on a whim, never thinking Graeme would see it since I was supposed to be staying at his parents’ place.
