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“No, it’s a broken wrist.”

“Fuck! We were meant to be going rafting today. Why the hell did you go and do that?”

Aidan raises an eyebrow. “Loving the sympathy, mate. I didn’t do it deliberately. I was watching a funny dog video while going down the stairs. I tripped, landed badly, broke my wrist.”

“Jesus!” I place a hand on the back of my neck and stare at the ceiling. “All the crazy shit we’ve done together, and that’s how you break a bone? How long are you out of action for?”

“Best-case scenario, six to eight weeks.”

“Bollocks! No matter how mad this place makes me, I know that every Tuesday I get to escape for a few hours with you and go canoeing, climbing, rafting—something to get my blood pumping and clear my head. But six weeks—maybe eight weeks—with no release from this place? Bloody hell, I can’t do that, Aidan. I won’t cope.”

He chuckles. “Aye, so, I thought you might make this all about you. I’m the one with the broken wrist, but you’re the one who should get the sympathy, aye?”

“Aye! I’m the one stuck in this hotel seven days a week with two brothers who drive me up the wall.”

Aidan comes further into the office and carefully lowers himself into the chair beside me. “All right, you grumpy bastard, if it makes you feel any better, I’m sorry I’ve spoilt your fun for the next few weeks. But this could be an opportunity! You and I came up with a plan years ago, remember? We said we’d start our own outdoor-activities business. First we were going to see the world, then we were going to come back here, set up our own business, and make money out of doing something we love.

“Obviously, after what happened . . . well, you couldn’t come travelling with me. But we can still start the business together. That part, at least, we can make a reality. With me out of action for a couple of months, we could use the time to focus on getting things up and running.”

I sigh, shaking my head. “No. I have no free time—this hotel consumes my entire life. How am I supposed to start another business on top of everything I do here? My brain wouldn’t cope. That idea . . . it was just a pipe dream.”

“No. It’s not a pipe dream. We can make it happen! Ally, you’ve done well to keep this place going, and you’ve looked after two wee brothers and a wee sister at the same time. It hasn’t been easy on you, and I get it: this place isn’t just a business, it’s your family home, the place you grew up in. At some point, though, you have to do something for yourself, and let me be the one to state the obvious: this place doesn’t make you happy. What does make you happy? Getting into the outdoors and doing adrenaline-filled crazy shit. You’re a different man when you’re going down rapids in a canoe or you’re halfway up a cliff. You’re not a grumpy bugger, for a start.”

I can’t help but laugh at this, but then I run a hand through my hair. “Aye, I get it, but it’s not just me who works here. It’s Lewis, it’s Jamie—hell, it’s your own maw. I can’t just call it quits, sell up, and leave the three of them without a job. And then there’s Cat too: while she’s studying in Glasgow, she’s relying on me financially. I’m stuck here—that’s just how it is. As much as I’d like to give it all up and start over with you, it’s not going to happen.”

Aidan leans back, furrowing his eyebrows and pursing his lips. “This isn’t over. I’m going to work on you. I’m used to getting what I want—you know that.”

“Aye, well, maybe you should focus on healing that wrist instead. I was looking forward to going rafting today. An hour of pure bliss, the adrenaline focusing me in the moment, the river demanding my full attention, leaving no time for pesky thoughts. It’s therapeutic, that’s what it is. It’s what keeps me sane. But now—”

“Excuse me?” a voice calls from reception.

“Aye, I’m just coming out,” I say. “Give me a moment.”

I nod at Aidan then get to my feet and head to the reception desk. On the other side is the Londoner, Emily. She’s completely soaked through. I’m not surprised she hasn’t dressed for the weather: I remember the white jeans she arrived in. I might have taken some grim satisfaction from seeing her like this, except I glimpse something in her eyes. Has she been crying?

“Are you okay?”

She nods, although I don’t believe her.

“Sorry, I wasn’t trying to eavesdrop, but I just got back to the hotel, and the office door was open. I heard what you were saying about rafting and how, when you’re on the water, you don’t think about anything else. That’s what I need right now: I need to forget about everything for a while. Is there a company around here that organises rafting excursions? Could you give me their number so I can get in touch with them?”

“Er . . . no. There’s no company like that nearby. Your best bet would be to take the bus, which isn’t particularly frequent, to—”

“Ally’s right, there’s no company like that around here yet,” Aidan says, stepping out from the office and beaming at Emily. “Hi, I’m Aidan. Pleased to meet you. Luckily, it’s my left wrist that’s broken, so I can still shake your hand.”

“Er, hi.” Emily takes Aidan’s hand, her expression uncertain. “I’m Emily.”

“Well, Emily, it’s funny you asked that question because it’s something me and my mate Ally here were discussing just a few minutes ago. You see, the two of us used to work as outdoor instructors, and we always planned to bring that experience back here to Bannock and set up our own company.”

I shoot Aidan a warning glower, but he pays me no notice.

“We’re not there yet, but in the meantime, we’re still going out on the river ourselves and keeping our skills sharp. We were meant to be going out today, actually, but . . . well, this happened.” He nods to his wrist.

“It’s a real shame because Ally was really looking forward to it. But what can you do? On the one hand, here’s Ally, desperate to go out on the river to get away from this place for a while. He’s also not instructed anyone for a few years, so it’d be ideal if some sort of opportunity came along for him to refresh his instructor skills. And then we’ve got you, Emily, also desperate to go rafting, but sadly there’s no company nearby that does it. If only there were a way to solve both those problems . . .”

Through gritted teeth, I mutter, “Keep on talking and you might find your other wrist broken.”

Aidan ignores me and clicks his fingers. “I’ve got it! Why doesn’t Ally take you out rafting, Emily? That way, you’ll both get what you want!”