Chapter 29 Eredine
EREDINE
Istrolled into Flora’s later that week, still in workout gear since I had a class later in the afternoon, and smirked at the sight of Arro guarding the small bistro table by the window.
She glowered at the counter. The café was packed, and a few people waited at the counter, eagle eyes on the table, as if willing her to leave.
Arro’s hand was settled on her small bump as if to emphasize the point that these people really didn’t want to mess with her right now.
Her entire face lit up when she saw me, and she relaxed as I sat across from her. “How did you secure this?”
“Mac did. He was driving through on his way to Inverness and stopped by for a quick kiss.” She beamed, smug that she had a guy who would stop mid journey for a kiss from his fiancée.
“He was pissed off I was standing while waiting for a table, so as soon as one became available, he eyed those people currently eyeing me in a way that said, ‘You wouldn’t dare deny my pregnant fiancée a table.’ And of course, they wouldn’t with a six-foot-four Scotsman scowling down at them.
He basically used his intimidating presence to grab the next available table. ”
Chuckling, I shook my head. “You do realize there is nothing in the world you won’t get if you want it. He’ll make sure of that.”
Her smile turned secretive and so full of happiness, I ached with the same emotion for her. “Aye, I know.”
“Ladies, ladies.” Flora appeared, looking harassed. She glanced over her shoulder at the rest of the café and then bent toward us to mutter, “I know these summer months keep me open, but sometimes I wish the tourists would just go away, you know.”
“Oh, I know.” Arro shot another annoyed look at the threesome still staring at us, as if trying to creep us out enough that we’d give up our table. “Sometimes I could kill Lachlan for making this place a destination spot.”
“Och, I wouldn’t go that far,” Flora tutted. “We’re all very grateful for the business. It’s just … trying sometimes. Now, what can I get you?”
We ordered sandwiches and tea, and the words were barely out of our mouths before Flora was hurrying off to serve the next person. I wondered where her extra staff was today. But only for a millisecond because Arro asked, “So … how are things with you and Arran?”
“You haven’t spoken to him?”
“Some texts, but he was a little vague and a wee bit absentminded.”
“I’m sorry. That’s probably my fault. He’s been at my place after work all week.”
“So, it’s going well, then?” She leaned forward, her stunning pale-blue eyes glittering with hope.
Only she and Brodan had eyes that striking shade of blue.
Lachlan and Arran had eyes the color of the sky on a sunny day.
Thane was the odd one out with his lovely gray blue.
Arran’s were my favorite. He had a laughing gleam in his that always made me smile. “Ery?”
“What? Sorry? I was woolgathering.”
Her lips twitched. “I take it things are going well, then, between you and Arran? You fixed your issues?”
I leaned in so I could lower my voice. “I told him about my past.”
Arro gaped at me, clearly stunned.
“You told him? You really told him … everything?”
Suddenly, I wondered if she’d be hurt that I told Arran when I hadn’t told her.
But now that I knew talking about it wasn’t nearly as scary as I’d expected, I wanted Arro to know.
She was my best friend. While I’d had nightmares the past few nights, ones Arran held me through, I think telling Arro the story would be easier now that I’d ripped off the Band-Aid.
“I told him everything,” I confirmed.
“How are you?” My friend covered my hand with hers, giving it a squeeze. “Are you doing okay after all that?”
Of course, Arro’s first thought would be of my emotional well-being and not that I had shared my past with Arran before her. That wasn’t who she was. I nodded. “It … I feel freed by it, Arro.”
She squeezed my hand again, eyes bright with emotion. “I’m so glad.”
I covered her hand with my other. “I don’t want too many people to know, for my own safety, but I will tell you. I want to tell you.” I glanced around the café. “Just not here.”
“You know you don’t have to. There’s no pressure.”
“I know. But you’re my best friend, and I want you to know.”
Tears welled in Arro’s eyes. “Oh, goodness.” She pulled her hand from mine to reach for a napkin. “This baby has turned me into a watering pot.”
“Excuses, excuses,” I teased.
She gave a huff of laughter as she dabbed at the corners of her eyes. “I know. I’m just so happy for you. You’re my best friend too.”
“So, we’ll take some time to talk later, yeah?”
“Absolutely. Name the date and time.”
Flora returned to our table at that moment with our sandwiches and tea. My stomach grumbled at the sight. Ever since telling Arran the truth, I had more of an appetite. I was just about to say so when Arro said, “Oh my God, is that Monroe?”
I looked up to see Arro peering out the café’s front window. Her gaze was fixed on a familiar, tiny, gorgeous redhead standing outside Morag’s, rifling through her purse for something.
“That is Monroe,” Arro surmised. “She hasn’t changed a bit.”
We watched her stride down the street and out of sight.
“You haven’t spoken to her yet?” I asked before taking a bite.
Arro shook her head, still staring out toward the street.
“I haven’t been in the village much lately, and I don’t have her number.
I kept waiting to bump into her. I’ll need to make more of an effort.
” Her eyes came to mine and narrowed at whatever she saw in my expression.
“Oh, Christ. Arran told you, didn’t he?”
I shrugged. “Maybe.”
“You can’t be jealous of Roe, Ery.” Arro frowned. “It was a mistake between them. A huge mistake that ruined all of our friendships with her.”
“I can’t help it.” I made a face. “I’ve never been possessive over someone before, but when I think about her with Arran, it bugs me.
He’s told me he doesn’t care about her that way, and I believe him, but they have a history and …
I don’t know why I feel jealous. I told him we have nothing to be jealous over. We trust each other.”
Arro snorted. “Jealousy doesn’t disappear because you trust your partner.
Jealousy is an unfavorable aspect of human nature.
We’re territorial creatures. That’s a fact.
I still want to pop people’s heads off when they flirt with Mac.
Even more so now.” She touched her belly.
“That’s normal, I think. The problems arise when you mistrust your partner out of jealousy.
That’s not the same thing as someone flirting with your man or knowing they’ve had sex with him in the past.”
That made me feel a little better. “Okay. Well, I guess that explains my irrational feelings about Monroe. Especially as Arran’s convinced Brodan was the one who had romantic feelings for her.”
A sadness flittered across Arro’s pretty face. “I suspect Arran’s correct. God knows why Brodan didn’t make a move there if he cared so much for Roe.” Realization dawned in her eyes. “Brodan’s coming home for our wedding. He might bump into her. He knows she’s here, right?”
“Arran told him.”
Arro nodded, expression thoughtful. “I wonder how he’ll feel about it.”
“It would be nice if he had another reason to stay in Ardnoch,” I mused. “Instead of traveling the world, avoiding his family for reasons unknown.”
She chuckled. “Don’t tell me you’re trying to play matchmaker?”
“No. And might not have to if we tell Regan.” I grinned.
Arro laughed. “That is very true. She was trying to get you and Arran together all along. And I think secretly she wanted Mac and me together too. She’s a bit of a romantic, that one.”
“A bit?” I scoffed. “Try a huge romantic. Speaking of, how are the wedding plans coming along?” We were only ten days out from the big day.
With a grimace, Arro confessed, “I’ve really just left it up to Regan.
I’d feel bad about that if she didn’t seem to thrive on the planning.
Mac and I have weighed in with some decisions, but we really just said, ‘Here’s the money, do as you wish with it.
’ Not that it’s going to be a big to-do like Robyn and Lachlan’s wedding.
It’s fairly simple. And Mac and I don’t really care, to be honest, as long as we’re surrounded by family. We just want to be married already.”
The double wedding ceremony was to be held on the land the Adair family owned in Caelmore, situated between Thane’s and Lachlan’s residences and Arro’s and Arran’s almost completed homes.
On the cliff, overlooking the North Sea.
And the newly renovated Gloaming would play host to the reception after.
The banquet hall normally used for the anniversary ceilidh every year was being transformed for the two couples’ reception.
“I think it’s going to be perfect,” I told her truthfully.
We talked a little more about what Regan had organized, and I marveled at her ability to juggle that, her studies for her business degree, and being a full-time mom to Eilidh and Lewis.
She was the youngest adult in our little clan, but you wouldn’t know it.
Regan had a maturity far beyond her years, which was why the thirteen-year age gap between her and Thane wasn’t a big deal.