The look of shock on Makenna’s face makes me laugh. “Aye, she did. She didny want to live in Scotland anymore, and she didny even ask me if I’d be up for moving with her.”
“Would you have moved to stay with her?” Makenna moves to sit up in the hammock, using her feet to set herself at a gentleswing.
I set my guitar back in its case. “You know, I’ve asked myself that a lot. I think with things happening as they did, and knowing that she didny even ask me, it’s easy for me to say that I’m glad things didny work out. But had she asked me? I don’t know. I might have. I certainly would, for the right woman.”
She nods, and I can tell she didn’t pick up on what I’m saying. And do I know for certainshe’sthe right woman? Maybe not yet, but the potential is there, and I hope she feels it too.
“How come you’ve not beensnatched up.”
“Well, I …” she begins, and I can see her face reddening. “I’ve only had one serious relationship, and he ended up being a pretty terrible guy. Before him, the guys I was interested in weren’t interested in me, and the ones who were interested in me, well … I didn’t share their interest. Since Ross, though, I haven’t been interested. He turned me off to the idea for a long time.”
Do I need to find more information on this Ross? Like his address.
“I’m so sorry you had a bad experience with that guy. You know we’re not all like him, right?” I’m not going to press her for more. Whatever he did, I’m sure not to do because I would never leave her feeling like I’m a pretty terrible guy.
“I do know that.” The smile she gives me feels meaningful, and the hope within me grows.
33
Makenna
Iwakeupandsee Malcolm looking like a giant sleeping on a couch made for a dollhouse. He looks peaceful, and I hope he slept as well as he assured me he would. I’m getting him to swap with me tonight, either way.
I’m reaching for my book to read, instead of getting up and risking waking him, when I hear a growl that reminds me of the giant fromJack and the Beanstalk. I look and see Malcolm twisting and stretching. It seems the night wasn’t as good to him as he claimed it would be.
I’m about to call out good morning, but I realize I have no idea what I look like. Should I try to sneak over to the bathroom? Considering my hair's tendency to look like a dirty mop in the morning, I decide to try.
I’ve not made it two steps when I hear, “Good mornin’, lass.”
I straighten—because yes, somehow crouching while walking was helping me remain unseen—and turn to face him.
“I like your wee frog shorts,” he says.
I smile and shake my head. “You’ve seen these before.”
“Aye. But I’ve never told you how much I like them.”
“Have a thing for frogs?”
“Not particularly.” Malcolm stands and stretches his arms above his head, and the bit of skin that becomes exposed makes me all the more thankful Malcolm opted to sleep with his shirt on. I’ve been spared from having to stare at him more than I should.
Still, I quickly turn and head for the bathroom. “I’ll be just a sec!”
Malcolm and I have first-class tickets on the Jacobite Steam Train. We notice quite a few people milling about wearing Hogwarts house robes as we climb aboard the train where they actually filmed the famous Harry Potter scenes. Even our compartment looks to be straight out of the movies.
“I feel a little bit like we’re living the movie,” I tell Malcolm asI slide onto my seat.
He sits beside me, having insisted I have the window seat. “I imagine we’ll get in trouble for forgetting our robes.”
The ride is more beautiful than I’d expected. We chat every now and again, but in general, I keep my eyes glued out the window. When I catch sight of the Glenfinnan Viaduct, I whisper-yell, “It’s the bridge from the movies!”
Malcolm leans in, and I feel his chest pressed against my shoulder and back as he tries to see. “Is this okay?” His voice is low, and I feel his breath on the side of my face.
Is this okay? Good grief, I never want him to move.
I don’t speak for fear of what it might sound like. “Mmmhmm.” And I’m horrified at how breathy it sounds.
“Good. I hevny actually seen it.”
