Page 104 of Scotch on the Rocks

What the fuck?“How?”

“Juniper told April. I overheard.” His grimace was enough to make me laugh. “It’s not funny. She made me an accomplice.”

I laughed louder, drawing stares. “Why didn’t you say anything?”

“Because I’m keeping my nose firmly out of it.” Turning, he planted a hand on the bar. “If Alistair has a problem with it are you going to stop?”

“Thought you were keeping your nose out of it?”

“Answer the question.” He shot back.

“No.” I barked. “I’ll be Juniper’s for as long as she wants me. End of discussion.”

“Shit.” He cut a dark look to the dance floor. “I hope you know what you’re doing.”

I didn’t. Being with Juniper was the only time in my life when I felt out of control. Not going through the motions, day after day.Fucking Community Ken,she called me, always doing exactly what was expected of me. With her … I felt reckless. Not the crash and burn kind of reckless but the desire for her to keep me on my toes for the rest of my life kind of reckless.

“Tell me, would you have done anything differently ifit were April?” I bit out. “If she’d been mine first? Would it have stopped you, or would you have taken whatever scraps she deigned to offer and be fucking thankful for it? Look me in the eye and tell me you wouldn’t have lied and betrayed every single person in your life for a single night with her. Knowing you might never get another.” He didn’t need to answer. The violent thrumming of his jaw was enough. “Think less of me if you must, but don’t ask me to stop because I won’t.”

In my periphery, April hovered on the other side of the bar. “You might as well say your piece too, Sinclair.”

She didn’t hesitate. “Are you in love with my best friend?”

“Yes.” I hated not saying it to Juniper first.

“How long?”

“Years,” I said and April smiled. “What?”

She shrugged, laying out a row of glasses on a tray. “Just … Juniper deserves that kind of love.” She nodded to the dance floor. “Perhaps you should tell her that yourself.”

My gaze snapped up in time to see Alistair’s head descending toward hers. Whispering in her ear. I moved without thought, the way I should have the instant she arrived. The instant I saw her on that train. Wielding my elbows like weapons, I barged through the throng. Someone shouted in protest, a foot squished beneath mine, but I paid no attention. My eyes too focused on Alistair’s hand on Juniper’s bare back where her dress dipped, steering her off the dance floor. Tucking her hair behind her ear, Juniper laughed, the sound like a strike of lightning in my veins, scorching me from the inside out. Obliterating every sensible thought in my brain that didn’t end with me ruining this cosy little moment.

Four steps, that was all it took to reach them. For me to curl my hand around her bicep and draw her to my side.

“Callum—” Alistair sounded almost jovial, like he’d finally shifted the heavy weight he’d been carrying.

“What are you doing?” Paling, Juniper tugged her arm free. But I was over standing on the sidelines, over choking down the words I wanted to say to keep other people happy.

“Callum—”

Ignoring her, I looked Alistair straight in the eye and said, “I’m dating Juniper. Sorry if that’s weird for you.”

The confession left my tongue like a hand grenade, but he didn’t so much as flinch.

For the space of two heartbeats, he just stared at me.

The band kept playing but the three of us held the attention of every person in the room. I couldn’t give a fuck.

“Well?” I urged. “If you want to hit me, I won’t blame you.”

“I’m not going to hit you,” he replied, stone-faced, his tone so level I might have believed he’d gone through basic training himself. “Is it true?” He asked Juniper.

She was frozen at my side, chin raised, eyes burning in defiance. “We should talk about this outside,” she answered, voice coated in hoarfrost. The ice queen I’d once accused her of being. I wanted to draw her into me, breathe in her sugar and spice scent and melt her with my tongue, but I knew right away I’d fucked up.

Knew it before I opened my damn mouth if I was being completely honest.

Alistair’s gaze bounced behind us, and then to the eager-eyed villagers as if noticing them for the first time. “Very well.” A tight nod and he spun on his heel. Juniper followed, her gait slow, the sway in her hips a pretty pretence at appearing unbothered.

---