Page 29 of Scotch on the Rocks

“Juniper is not alass.” My tone was sharp enough tocut glass. “I have friends on the council board. Return her money today or I’ll have no choice but to report your unsafe work practices. They’ll probably take your licence away and then what will you do?”

“You’d ruin me fae a wee mistake the lads would have put right if she hadn’t started screaming like a banshee? She threw a shoe at Brodie’s head.” What I would have paid to see that. “I could sueher.”

Perhaps.He’d have to prove it and it would raise questions he wouldn’t want to answer.

Inching back, the heel of my foot crunched over gravel as I straightened his collar. “Here’s what you’re going to do. You’re going to start by paying Juniper every penny you owe.” He began to protest, and I held up a hand. “You are going to pay her back. Today. That part is non-fucking-negotiable. Then you’re going to get your grandsons properly trained. Brodie is off the team until you do.”

He gaped. “Off the team? Yer mad, he’s the fastest half forward on Skye.”

I shrugged as though I wasn’t handing this year’s North Division league cup to Portree. “There are other players.”There weren’t. Pulling my car keys from my pocket, I rounded to the driver’s side, calling over my shoulder, “Get it sorted and he’s back on the team, he might still get a few games in this season.”

I hadn’t even opened the door before his reply washed over me, low and far too arrogant. “You know, being sweet on yer brother’s lass might be frowned on by some folk in this village.”

My answering laugh was so heated, the drizzle in my periphery turned to steam. He thought he had me by the balls. Little did he know Juniper had been carrying those around in her purse for the last eight years.

“Good job I don’t care what folk think of me, Murray.” I held his gaze, daring him to say more. When only his jaw ticked, I climbed into my truck. Dust kicked up beneath my tyres as I peeled away, leaving his inane threats over Juniper with him.

I couldn’t care less who knew about my feelings, I’d had a long time to make peace with them. Any guilt I’d once harboured began to wane in the same moment my brother made the biggest mistake of his life. The night I’d driven, half blind with rage, from Edinburgh to Glasgow, hating him for hurting her. Hatingmyselffor feeling so bloody relieved.

Then I’d seen the hollow look in his eyes. Beard grown out; eyes bloodshot, wearing only one sock.

Instead of fighting, he invited me inside where we’d gotten blind drunk on whisky that reminded us of home. With every sip I’d held my breath for the light bulb moment, the frantic search for car keys that would ensue when he realised how badly he’d fucked it all.

Days turned into weeks. Every phone call I expected to hear his voice on the line. “Hey bro, funny story, June and I are back together …”

Every day it didn’t come, my guilt lessened, until it was nothing more than a twinge in my chest. Then Glasgow happened. And I stopped seeing Juniper as his and she became mine. Mine to provoke, love and protect, if only from afar.

7

Callum

Dear Callum,

You know me, it’s not in my nature to overstep, yet I couldn’t help but notice you’d yet to book the pitch for the Portree game next week. Rest assured I have it all in hand, as well as the training pitch for Thursday evening. Portree plays a strong defence and we need to be prepared, especially without Brodie’s speed on the ball.

You’ve been rather distracted of late. If the captaincy is proving too much, I’d be happy to take the lead in your stead.

For the good of the team, of course.

Duncan

Duncan,

Thanks for your concern but I have it all in hand.

Callum

A knock to the examination room door dragged me from my furious scrolling. Saving the assisted living home inKyle to my bookmark, I dropped my phone onto the desk. Today had been … not great. Though she tried to disguise it, I could tell from the weary set of her shoulders that Mum was exhausted. Permanent lines strained her features that hadn’t existed a year ago. She’d lost weight—

Knock. Knock.

Fuck. “Come in.” Even when I was here, I wasn’t reallyhere.

Kelly popped her head around the door, a bright smile on her face. “Jill Mortimer is here for her appointment.”

“Again?It’s barely been a week?”

Kelly shrugged, tight brown curls bouncing off the collar of her pink scrubs. “It’s Coco this time.”

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