Total pages in book: 127
Estimated words: 121460 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 607(@200wpm)___ 486(@250wpm)___ 405(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 121460 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 607(@200wpm)___ 486(@250wpm)___ 405(@300wpm)
Butterflies swarmed in my stomach as I drove the piece-of-shit car I’d saved up for. It was honestly a miracle that the ancient Brava could get me back and forth to Inverness. And as much as it was a piece of shit, I also loved it. She (my car was definitely a girl) represented my freedom.
She chugged to a stop outside the castle, and as I got out, the double doors opened and Arran stepped out with a bottle of beer in each hand, his arms spread wide as he yelled, “Let’s get fucked!”
I laughed at his nonsense and rounded the bonnet. “Aye, give me, give me.”
Grinning, he held out a beer. “Don’t tell Brodan I’m corrupting you while he’s gone.”
The mention of his brother caused that familiar pang, and the urge to burst into tears was real. I forced myself to roll my eyes instead and took the beer. “I was corrupted long before you, Arran Adair.”
“Oh, aye?” He waggled his brows. “Who was the lucky bastard?”
Wrinkling my nose, I huffed, “No one worth mentioning.”
“That bad, eh?” Arran snorted.
Shoving him toward the house, I replied, “None of your business. I hope there are snacks in here.”
Arran led me to his bedroom, and I asked if anyone else was home this weekend.
“Dad’s in Skye for the weekend again for who knows what. I wonder if he has a fuck buddy there.”
“Is that all you think about?”
“Pretty much. Anyway, Lachlan is filming in Canada, and Thane’s at uni. And so, of course, is Brodan.”
“Speaking of,” I led casually, “is it true, then? That he has a girlfriend? We haven’t spoken much lately.”
Arran flopped down on his bed with a frown. “The big shit isn’t dropping the ball on your friendship because he’s got a fucking girlfriend, is he?”
My breath caught as my gut twisted painfully. Letting my hair hide my face as I settled into his comfy armchair, I asked, “So, it’s true?”
“Aye. Who would have thought?” Arran gestured to the pile of snacks on his bed. “What delicacy would you prefer with your beer, my lady? Pringles, peanuts, chocolate?”
I shrugged, and he tossed a bag of chocolate buttons at me. I caught them, even though my mind was screaming at him to tell me more.
Thankfully, Arran spoke with no further prompting. “Brodan brought his bird home last weekend.”
“Don’t call her a bird,” I admonished.
He grinned. “Apologies. He brought his lady home last weekend.”
Brodan brought her here.
“Thane and Dad were both home, so he wanted us all to meet her. I can’t believe he’s finally getting serious about someone.” Arran wrinkled his nose. “She was fit, don’t get me wrong, but she kept giggling at everything Bro said. It was fucking annoying.”
“Are they serious?”
Arran sat up to take a chug of his beer, his eyes narrowing on me. I tried not to squirm under his regard. Swallowing his mouthful, he asked, “Brodan really hasn’t told you about her?”
No.
Brodan had not only lied when he told me he’d never be serious about anyone (insinuating that if he could be serious, it would be about me), but he’d cut me out of his life.
Without exaggeration, the pain in my chest was excruciating. I felt like I was going to fall into a million pieces or float away from myself, untethered for eternity. Both thoughts panicked me.
“Roe? You okay?”
Don’t let him see. Don’t let any of them see.
And never let Brodan Adair see what he’d done to me.
Wanting to be numb, I chugged back my beer until I was gasping for breath.
“Roe?” Arran leaned toward me, concern on his handsome face.
“It’s stupid … I just … I never thought he’d drop me when he got a girlfriend.” I fudged the truth so he wouldn’t see. Wouldn’t see that I was in agony.
“That shithead.” Arran looked furious. “Has he really not spoken to you?”
“Not in a few weeks. He used to text every day and call every other. He didn’t say anything to you about me, did he?” I prodded, hoping like hell Brodan hadn’t told Arran that I was in love with him.
He shook his head, scowling. “Not a bloody word. But I’m going to have a word with him. He can’t just drop you because he has a girlfriend. And Vanessa better not be the reason.”
“Vanessa?”
“Aye, that’s her name.”
Vanessa.
He’d abandoned me for someone called Vanessa.
Brodan had abandoned me.
He was the only person on the planet who knew how alone I felt because of my shitty parents. Even so, he’d abandoned me. Just like they had.
At that moment, I hated him. Truly. I let that hatred creep through me and miraculously, it stifled my growing anxiety. “Don’t say anything to him.” My voice didn’t sound like mine. It was flat, cold. “I don’t want Brodan’s friendship just because his brother reminded him to give a shit.”