Total pages in book: 107
Estimated words: 102731 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 514(@200wpm)___ 411(@250wpm)___ 342(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 102731 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 514(@200wpm)___ 411(@250wpm)___ 342(@300wpm)
I grumbled under my breath, but I didn’t really mean it. In fact, I grabbed a beer as soon as we hit the bar. Because I was a broody bastard tonight. It was probably graduation stirring up all those old ghosts. However, I was done with them.
I wanted to drown the memories that had risen up to plague me.
Two
LEWIS
TEN YEARS AGO
My gut churned.
Pushing away from my computer, I practically jumped to my feet and started pacing. It felt like there was this energy inside me that had no place to go. Between that and the gut churning, I was agitated beyond belief.
Fyfe spun in his chair and pulled off his headphones and mic. My best friend’s eyebrows were practically in his hairline. “What’s going on?”
We’d been in the middle of playing League of Legends with two lads from Glasgow when I’d made my abrupt departure. But I couldn’t think. Couldn’t concentrate.
What was going on?
I was an idiot. That was what was going on. “I … uh … I don’t feel so great.”
“Aye?” Fyfe put the headphones back on and told the lads we needed to finish up for the evening. He turned back to me. “Should I head home?”
Considering I was the worst company ever right now, I nodded. “I’ll see you out.”
We were halfway down the stairs when Fyfe asked quietly, “It doesn’t have anything to do with Callie going out with Michael tonight?”
He’d heard, then.
“I don’t know,” I answered truthfully.
Fyfe gave me a look. When we reached the bottom of the stairs, Eilidh, who was sitting at the island chatting with Mum, jumped off her stool. Her big eyes were locked on my best friend.
“You’re not leaving, are you? We’re making pepperoni pizza, just for you.” Eils batted her eyelashes at him.
My sister had made it clear this past year that Fyfe Moray was her latest crush. It annoyed the hell out of me, which only made her flirt with him more.
Fyfe smirked and nudged his glasses higher up his nose. “Thanks, but I’ve gotta go.”
Eilidh pouted. “Are you coming around tomorrow?”
My friend looked at me. I nodded. He nodded in turn to Eils, who practically bounced on the balls of her feet. “We’ll make you pizza then too. Bye, Fyfe.” She blew him a kiss and hurried back up onto the stool.
I glowered at Mum as if to say Do something about that, but Mum merely chuckled and shook her head.
Once outside, I waited as Fyfe got on his bike and said, “Sorry if Eils is making you uncomfortable.”
Fyfe grinned. “It’s fine. She’s kind of hilarious.”
“She has ‘Eilidh loves Fyfe’ scrawled all over her sketchpads. I think these drama lessons are making her worse.”
“She’s just a kid,” he said with the sage wisdom of a fifteen-year-old. “It’s fine. Text me later.”
I waved as he cycled down the drive onto the single track that led out onto the main road back to Ardnoch.
As soon as he was gone, I saw Callie in my mind, her chin tilted back in defiance as I confronted her about Michael Barr. Michael at least had the decency to tell me he and Callie were going to the movies in Inverness. Callie’s mum was dropping them off, and Michael’s stepmum Kenna was picking them up.
I knew Michael had always liked Callie. She’d told me he’d asked her out a year ago and she’d said no. But … she’d changed her mind. Because of me.
In a foul mood, I stormed back into the house.
“Pizza’s almost ready,” Mum called to me.
“Eat it yourselves,” I huffed and took the stairs two at a time. Slamming my bedroom door behind me, I prayed my mum and sister left me alone as I dove onto the bed and slipped my headphones on. Biffy Clyro filled my ears, and I tried to ignore the panic that gripped my chest.
It wasn’t Mum or Eilidh who walked into my room later that evening.
Dad popped his head in a few hours later, and I reluctantly slipped off my headphones. “May I come in?” he asked.
I nodded and scooted up against my headboard, waiting as Dad sat down on the end of the bed. He gestured to my headphones. “Who are you listening to now?”
“Biffy Clyro.” I’d only gotten into them because my dad and uncles liked the older band.
He grinned. “Good taste.”
I stared down at my lap, unable to engage in small talk.
“Your mum says something’s up.”
Callie’s face flashed before me again. The hurt in her eyes. Then the determination. I should have known what that determination meant.
If Michael kissed her tonight, I’d lose my fucking mind.
My hands unconsciously clenched into fists.
Dad noticed. “Talk to me, Lew.”
“I’m fine.”
“You’re not fine.”
He waited patiently. Then, “Does it have something to do with Callie going on a date with Michael tonight?”
My head whipped up. “How do you know about that?”