The Highland Fling(97)

Panic tightens my chest. “No, I thought she was with you. We had a fight, and I just assumed she went to stay with you these past few days.”

Isla’s eyes look wild now as she shakes her head. “No, she said she was taking some time to think about things. I thought . . . I thought she was with you.”

“Oh my God.” I quickly grab my phone and try giving her a call. As expected, she doesn’t answer. “Have you called or texted her?”

“No, I was giving her some space.” Isla pulls out her phone as well. “Should I call her?”

“Yes, see if she answers.” Panic turns into fear as my mind reels back to the weeks after Isabella broke up with Dakota. She fell into a deep depression, and it took her a while to climb out of it. There were a few nights when I slept in her bed with her, just to let her know I loved her, I was there for her, that she was worth so much more than the way Isabella had treated her.

Isla gnaws on her bottom lip as the phone rings. I hold my breath, terrified. I can hear her voice mail pick up, and my stomach drops. Isla glances at me, wide eyed, and when the beep sounds off, she says, “Hiya, Dakota, it’s me. I know you wanted some space, but I’m just checking on you to make sure you’re all right. Please call me.” She hangs up and shifts in place. “What do we do?”

I glance around the coffee shop. “Find her.” Clearing my throat, I face my very first patrons. “Hey, you guys, something has come up, and I’m going to need to close.”

Leith lifts his head, halfway through eating his buttery. “Is everything okay?”

“Hopefully,” I say. “I hate to kick you out, especially since you showed up to support me, but . . . do you mind?”

“Not at all,” Shona says, gathering everyone and shoving them out the door.

Leith stays behind, though, and when everyone is out of earshot, he asks, “Does this have to do with Rowan? We haven’t heard from him in a few days, and since he’s not here today and didn’t even respond to help with the tour bus, I thought maybe you two didn’t figure things out.”

“I mean, no . . . but . . . you haven’t heard from him?” I ask, more concern growing.

“No, but that’s normal too. He can get into these moods where he doesn’t want to see anyone. He’ll sometimes go up north and stay in the family cottage up there. If you two had words, he’s probably up there.”

Oh.

So . . . he’s just mad.

“Okay.” I clear my throat. “Well, thanks for letting me know.” Leith gives me a quick nod and heads out of the coffee shop.

Isla moves to the counter and takes my hand. “Where do we start?”

I clutch my phone. “Find My Phone. We’ll track her down.”

I open up the app and quickly click on Dakota’s name. Isla leans over, and when the app pinpoints her, Isla nods next to me. “Badicaul. I know where she is. Come on. I’ll drive.”



“Do you want to talk about what happened with Rowan?” Isla says as we drive to what seems to be an outlook on a beach in Badicaul, northwest of Corsekelly. When we spotted her on Find My Phone, Isla explained that it was a place she’d told Dakota about on one of their dates. She said she didn’t think there was anything dangerous there—no cliffs or anything like that—which now eases my beating heart, slightly. Not that I think Dakota would hurt herself, but then again, I’m not sure what kind of mental state she’s in at this point.

Staring out the window, I watch the rolling green hills pass by as I shake my head. “Not really. I don’t think there’s much to talk about, honestly. I already went through all of it with Leith.”

“Did he say Rowan would come round?”

“Pretty much.”

“Trust him—he’s right.”

I chew on the inside of my cheek, trying to rein in my emotions. I’m over crying at this point. I’ve shed way too many tears.

“But honestly, if he does come around, hasn’t the damage already been done?” I ask, my mind racing with disappointment. Did I push him away by being too caught up with my own life problems, just like I did with Dakota?

“Is the damage so bad you can’t work through it?”

“I don’t know,” I whisper as we pull down a dirt road and go toward the water’s edge.

Nerves tickle my throat, tightening my vocal cords. We curve around a bend, and then our MINI Cooper comes into view, followed by Dakota, sitting on the flat ground overlooking the shore. She’s staring out at the water, her legs pulled to her chest.

“There she is,” Isla says, relief in her voice.

At the sound of the car approaching, Dakota looks behind her, and I see her ravaged eyes, bloodshot and sunken. My heart twists in my chest, and before Isla can stop the car, I’m unbuckling my seat belt.

“Do you mind staying in the car so I can talk to her first?”

“Not at all,” Isla answers, understanding in her eyes.

“Thank you.”

Once the car is parked, I hop out and head to Dakota, who turns away again. I have no clue if I’m looking at a loch or the ocean at this point, but whatever it is, it’s pretty.

Not saying a word, I take a seat next to her and mimic her position, bringing my legs into my chest.