Page 75 of Scotch on the Rocks

I hated the pain in his expression when his eyes bounced between mine, then to my car as though he didn’t have the faintest idea what to say.Fine by me. I tried to slide past him, but he caught me, then held his hands up placatingly when I flinched away from the touch. “You can’t drive off like that.”

“I’m fine, get out of my way.” I desperately searched the other pocket then tore through my bag again. “Where the bloody hell are my keys?”

“They’re in your hand. Shit, sweetheart.” His entire face caved in on itself, devastated for me. “It’s okay to be upset about this.”

“Don’t call me that.” I sidestepped him. “And I’m not upset, I’mpissed.” But that didn’t feel right either – it was like an old scar had torn open down my chest, only to discover it had never healed properly in the first place.

“That’s fine too.”

I choked on a laugh, it sounded pathetic. “Are you a therapist now?”

“No. If I were, I wouldn’t be fighting the urge to go back there and punch my brother for putting that look on your face.”

I dropped my face in my hands. A little of the tightness in my chest easing. “I don’t want that. I never wanted—”Never wanted to come between them.

His hands curled around my shoulders. “I know.”

This was so bloody wrong – all of it – still I gave myself a second to sink into his grip. “This is why last night should never have happened.” Backing up, I swiped at my face again. “Between Alistair and Heather, it’s too complicated.”

“It doesn’t have to be.” He made it sound so easy.

“Alistair—”

“Alistair is a fucking idiot.” He was before me in aheartbeat, his own breathing erratic as he hissed, “It’s what I think now and it’s what I told him then. He could have had—” He shook his head, pupils blown as he looked at me with a fierceness that raked like claws across my heart. “He never deserved you.”

He never deserved you.How many people uttered those very words? And just like every time before, they rang hollow in my heart.

“If you want to talk to him—”

“I don’t want to talk to him. I don’t think I should talk to you either.”

He swallowed. “Will you let me drive you home? Please?”

I shook my head. “I can manage.”

“If that’s what you want,” he said but it looked as though the words cost him something.

“You don’t need to worry about me.” I brushed past him this time, without meeting his stare. If I did, I would have given in to anything he offered. To drive me home. To hold me in his arms. I already balanced on a knife’s edge.

I reached for the handle. He got there first. “That’s an impossible habit to break. Don’t ask me to.” Slipping the keys from my grip, he held the driver’s door wide, waiting for me to climb inside. Once I was behind the wheel, he dropped to his knees, reaching up and around to click the seatbelt into place. Giving a tug to ensure it was secure.

My hands trembled a little in my lap. Callum lifted them and set them on the wheel at ten and two. “Breathe, sweetheart. Take one big breath in.” I did, feeling the bite of the seatbelt before I released it. “Again.” I complied. “Again.” He repeated the word ten more times. Until my tears dried and my grip turned steady. “Will you let me know when you get home?”

I nodded, twisting the keys to start the engine. He finallypushed to stand. Closing the door with a click, he stepped out of view, waiting, as I backed the car from the spot and drove to the exit. Hitting my indicator left, I glanced in my rearview to find him watching. Hands on his hips, breeze tossing his curls. He waited until my car disappeared from view.

20

Callum

Callum: Get over to Ivy House.

Heather: And why would I do that?

Callum: We can pick up this little fight later. Alistair’s home.

Heather: What?? Since when?

Callum: About five minutes ago.

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