The Highland Fling(43)

“I’m asking you, please . . . don’t make it a thing.”

“But I love making it a thing.”

“Please, Bonnie.”

“Ugh,” I groan. “This is painful.”

“Bonnie . . .”

“Fine.” I lean back in my chair. “I won’t make it a thing.”

“Thank you. So, about the reviews—”

“Oh my God, you’re going on a date.” I clap my hands excitedly.

Dakota puts her head in her hand. “You’re making it a thing . . .”





CHAPTER TEN





ROWAN


Curly Wurlys consumed: Seven.

Curly Wurlys left in stash: One.

Awkward, unexpected kisses: One.

Missed opportunity to kiss back: One.

A certain blonde has pushed me to blowing through my stash quicker than I care for, and I’m not fucking happy about it. And she’s made me consider why I didn’t kiss her back. Maybe because she drives me insane? Maybe because I have no idea how I really feel about her? Maybe because I’m out of my mind with my parents, her, the changes that are happening at a rapid pace.

Can’t blame a guy, right?



“Rowan, are you there? It’s your mother.”

“Yes, Maw. I know. I can see that from the caller ID.”

“Well, I can barely hear you!” she yells into the phone.

“Because you don’t have the phone on speaker,” I hear my da say.

“I pressed the button.”

“You didn’t press the button. It’s not lit up.”

“How do you know it has to be lit up?” Maw asks.

“That’s how the phone works. Press the button.”

“I did.”

“You clearly didn’t.”

“Jesus Christ, just someone press the button!” I shout.

“Fine, I’ll press the button again—oh look, it’s lit up.”

“I told you, you bawbag,” Da says, making me chuckle.

“You watch your tone, Stuart,” Maw snaps. “Or I won’t fetch you that cola like you asked.”

“Sorry,” he mumbles.

Da and his cola.

“Rowan, are you there?”

“Yes, I’m still here,” I answer while kicking my feet up on my coffee table.

“How are you?” Maw shouts, nearly breaking my eardrum.

“You don’t have to shout, Maw, I can hear you just fine.”

“Och, sorry.” She chuckles. “You’d think I’ve never used a phone before. How are you?”

It’s rare when she does use a phone, though. If she wants to talk to someone, she usually just walks over to them. The only person she talks to on the phone is her sister, and that’s pretty much it.

“I’m doing fine.” I twist my water bottle in hand, staring down at the fizz tablet that’s reacting to the water. “How’s holibags?”

“Lovely, lovely. We had the most wonderful chicken today. I asked the waitress for the recipe, and she said they didn’t do that.”

“Yeah, Maw.” I push my hand through my hair. “It’s not like the Admiral, where you can go up to Alasdair and ask him for his piecrust recipe.”

“Well, it should be. We paid enough. You would think they’d allow you to take home the recipe.”

“Where exactly are you?” I ask.

“Oh now, now, none of that business.”

“Don’t you think it’s well mad that you’re in another country and I don’t know about it? It’s not settling well with me, Maw. I’m worried, ye ken?”

“You have nothing to worry about, Rowan. We’re safe.”

Yeah, well, easy for her to say.

I take a deep breath, trying not to grow frustrated with my parents and stress them out. “Given what’s happened in the past, I’d assume you would be more sensitive to me fretting about the well-being of my family members.”

A sigh. “Rowan, I promise you, you have nothing to worry about.”

“Why won’t you tell me?” I ask, sounding harsher than I wanted.

“Just drop it, Rowan,” Da chimes in with his stern voice.

And now that he’s spoken up, it’s done. But I don’t think it’s nothing to worry about. They’re not saying where they are. Da sounds weaker. Something is going on, and it’s really starting to concern me that they aren’t involving me in their lives.

I press my fingers to the bridge of my nose. “Fine, but you’re being smart? Taking all precautions? You know how people can treat tourists, especially older ones. They take advantage.”

“We’re not that old,” Maw scoffs. Old enough. “And yes, we’re being safe. Now, let’s talk about you. Shona was telling me how you’ve become familiar with Bonnie. She couldn’t remember who was who at first, but she described her as the long-haired blonde.”

Fucking Shona.

“I’m not familiar with Bonnie, whatever the hell that means.”

“Well, that’s not what I’ve heard. Seems like you’ve been carrying her all around town. Going on hikes. Apparently, you appeared from the trees all muddy and wet. Care to explain? She assumed you two were rolling around together.”