The Highland Fling(30)

“Fine.” Leith and Lachlan hold out their hands. They count off and Leith wins with rock.

Lachlan groans and is opening his mouth to make his confession when a voice behind me calls out, “We’re here.”

I turn to find Dakota and Bonnie walking up to us, each of them carrying a water bottle at their side. When Bonnie locks eyes with me, I see my thoughts mirrored in her expression.

What is she doing here?

What is he doing here?

“Sorry we’re late,” Dakota says. “Bonnie lost her other shoe, and we couldn’t find it. Somehow it ended up in her bed.” She flashes a smile at Isla.

“You’re right on time,” Isla says, walking up to Dakota and giving her a hug. I watch the surprised expression on Dakota’s face soften into happiness. Isla quickly hugs Bonnie as well and clears her throat. “The boys and I were talking, and since you lasses are new to the route, we’re going to buddy up.”

Uh, we did not discuss that.

“Leith and Lachlan are going to lead the way,” Isla continues. “Dakota, you can buddy up with me and we’ll go second, since the terrain is a little rocky. And, Bonnie, you can walk with Rowan. He’s sturdy, so if you slip, just grab any of his muscles.”

“Including the one in his pants,” Leith says, and Isla slaps him on the back of the head.

“Ignore him.” Leaning against the bakeshop are two hiking sticks. Isla hands one to each girl. “These should help during the steep parts. It will be challenging, but I promise it’ll totally be worth it, especially since I packed some fresh shortbread for us for when we get to the castle.”

“Sounds great,” Dakota says, looking far more excited than Bonnie, who’s staring daggers at me as she grips her hiking stick.

How convenient that I get matched up with Bonnie. This situation smells of meddling friends who think they know better than me.

Isla waves a hand at her brothers. “Leith and Lachlan, lead the way.”

They take off, and we all file in line through an alley between the stone buildings, two by two by two, like a herd of hairy coos making our way up toward the castle.

At first, Bonnie and I don’t say anything to each other.

It’s awkward.

Uncomfortable.

And this is not how I planned on spending my Sunday.

Meanwhile, Leith and Lachlan are laughing up ahead, while Dakota and Isla seem to be deep in conversation.

Once we make it out of town and start onto the footpath that leads to the castle, I start to feel Bonnie brushing against me and grumbling something under her breath. Ignoring her, I continue to walk, trying to at least enjoy the silence. That’s until . . .

“Can you stop hogging the trail with your mammoth body?” Bonnie says, shoving me with her shoulder, but given our size difference, she doesn’t move me an inch.

“I’m just walking.”

“You’re manspreading.”

“How is that possible?”

“I don’t know—you tell me. You’re the one walking like a Neanderthal with his arms all puffed out, knocking me into the bushes.”

“I’m not manspreading; this is just the size of my body.”

“You’re too big.”

I snort. “I’ve never had that complaint before.”

“Ugh, I should have seen that coming.”

“For someone who’s in a foreign country with a plush job, you seem to be cranky all the time.”

“I’m not cranky, just . . . irritated.” She blows out a long breath.

“You get irritated that easily?”

“Well, yes, but your manspreading is not the only reason I’m irritated.”

“I’m not manspreading,” I repeat, glancing down at her. Her ponytail sways from side to side with each of her steps, and she looks cute in her leggings and tank top, a jacket tied around her waist. I half expected her to be one of those girls who shows up for a hike in heels, but she’s not. When she doesn’t say anything after that, I figure I might as well pry. This is a long hike, and walking it with someone who is silent is going to be painfully awkward. I hate to admit it, but . . . even though I enjoy silence, I also hate when I can feel people are mad. Takes away from the peace I’m trying to capture while hiking. “Why are you irritated?”

“Do you really care?” The hostility is clear in her voice, but I can also sense she wants to get this off her chest. Contrary to what she must think about me, I’m not a complete asshole.

“Try me.”

She doesn’t answer right away but instead falls silent, the crunch of the ground beneath our feet the only sound either of us is making.

Finally she says, “I was trying to make something to bring to the picnic today. You know, contribute to the group, since the Murdachs were so kind to invite us.”

“Okay . . .”

“It didn’t go as planned.”

“Mess up?”

“Six times.” She sighs heavily. “Six freaking times, and I swear, on the sixth I almost burned down the cottage. Dakota came home to smoke filtering out the front door and windows.”

“What were you trying to make?”

“Butteries.”

“Butteries?” I ask. Haven’t had those since . . . well, since Da stopped working at the shop. “Why were you trying to make those?”