Chapter 17
Nairie
The weeks that followed were a blur of sex, art, and arguments with my parents. At some point, Mom and Baba actually did come to Elspeth’s house to try and drag me back home, but I pushed them out the door as politely as I could.
They continued to give me the silent treatment at the jewelry store, and I would be more upset if I wasn’t so damn happy being William’s girlfriend.
It was everything I’d imagined and more.
We got into a comfortable routine of watching movies with Elspeth most nights, cooking dinner together, having endless orgasms, and sharing muffled giggles until the sun came up.
But we could both sense our time was running out.
Elspeth was running the pub smoother than ever, and she was making enough profit to start paying off her debts and current expenses.
I could tell running the inn from across the world was wearing on William. If he wasn’t on the phone in the early mornings, he was on his laptop in the office or at the pub overseeing things with Elspeth. The only time he spared was with me, and I didn’t take it for granted.
I was finalizing some pieces for class while William worked silently on his computer.
It felt so comfortable working side by side with him, with the hum of gentle jazz playing in the background.
I could picture our future like this so easily, and it made my heart ache thinking of him going back home.
I stopped sketching and stared at him. He was so damn handsome, his hair slightly rumpled from running his hands through it and his head resting against his index finger as he sat deep in thought. He scratched the scruff on his chin and caught me looking at him.
William smirked. “Am I your muse?”
“Definitely,” I said as I bit my cheek.
William beckoned me over with a nod, and I put my pencils down to go sit on his lap. I loved that no matter how self-conscious I still felt about my body, I knew he could handle all of me.
I wrapped my hand around the back of his neck and rested the other on his chest as I kissed him. “I know you have to go back home soon.”
William closed his eyes and nodded. “Aye, I’ve been putting off telling you. But I can stay for the church banquet.”
“Don’t worry about that, it’s not important.”
“It’s important to your parents. Have you thought about telling them about us yet?”
“They’re still pissed about me moving out. I just don’t know when the right time would be.”
“There’s never a right time, love, but I’d like to go to the banquet as your boyfriend.”
I chewed on my lip. “Can I think about it a little longer?”
I could tell he was disappointed, but he nodded and smiled forlornly.
“How about I introduce you to my aunt?” I quickly added. “She’s the best one in the family anyway.”
That earned me a genuine smile. “I’d love to.”
I knew how my parents would react to the news.
It’s why I wanted to prolong telling them.
It would ruin the happy bubble we were in, and I wanted to revel in the glow for just a little while longer.
But I understood where he was coming from.
I didn’t want him to think I was ashamed of him.
Maybe Aunt Lilit would have good advice.
The next day, we made our way up the winding road to Lilit’s.
William’s eyebrow raised as he took in their surroundings. “Is your aunt an arms dealer?”
I laughed. “No. She was just very good at investing.”
William chuckled in disbelief. “Uh-huh.”
I would have visited my aunt more often, but I was so busy spending time with William that I hadn’t gotten around to it. Unsurprisingly, Aunt Lilit forbade me from coming anyway. She wanted me to revel in my newfound relationship and refused to be a “cockblocker.”. Her words, not mine.
It felt good having at least one family member know about William.
I was excited for them to meet, and as we pulled up to her house, Lilit was already standing outside with a martini in hand and a butler waiting with a tray of drinks.
She was dressed in a pale blue Chanel pantsuit this time, and her long hair was twisted into an elegant chignon.
Lilit raked her eyes over William as we approached across the gravel pathway. I hid my giggle at her blatant perusal, and William smiled politely.
“Well, well. This is the Scotsman?” she asked.
William reached out his hand. “Indeed. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Lilit. I’m William.”
Lilit firmly shook his hand with a twinkle in her eye. “The pleasure is mine. Can I get your beer, or is scotch more apropos?”
Lilit let out a girlish giggle, and I snorted and shook my head at her giddiness around William.
Luckily, he took it in stride. “Beer is fine.”
We went to the patio under the veranda overlooking the LA city skyline.
“This is a beautiful home you have.”
Lilit twirled the olives in her martini glass. “Thank you. It does the job whenever I’m in town visiting my favorite niece. Nairie tells me you two are official now.”
William’s eyes warmed at the words. “That’s right.”
“So tell me more about your background. I’ve heard some details from Nairie, of course.”
“I’ve known Nairie since I was twelve from my summer holidays here. When I was old enough, I joined the SAS for a handful of years, and now I run an inn with my mother back in Inverness.”
“Fascinating. And what did you do in the SAS?”
“We rescued hostages. Engaged in counter-terrorism efforts. Things like that.”
“Dangerous job.”
“Aye, but luckily, I made it out in one piece.”
“I’ve known men who were in the service. Civilian life can be tough for some of them. Do you find it difficult?”
I was surprised by my aunt’s question, but it seemed she lived a colorful life and knew every type of person there ever was.
“In the beginning,” he said, “But I’ve kept myself busy with the business. When I have time, I get my adrenaline fix from rock climbing and BASE jumping these days.”
Lilit quirked an eyebrow. “And has Nairie joined you on these adrenaline adventures?”
William laughed. “Just kayaking and hiking so far. I haven’t convinced her to join me on my next mountaineering expedition though.” He winked at me.
I put my hand up in protest. “Yeah, I think I’ll sit that one out.”
Lilit smiled fondly. “Our Nairie is more of an indoor cat, so to speak.”
William chuckled and squeezed my knee.
Lilit looked over her glass when she spoke. “So why Nairie? I can guess, but I’m curious to hear your perspective.”
William looked at Lilit for a moment and reached for my hand, intertwining our fingers. “She’s thoughtful and kind. She’s selfless and would do anything for the people she loves. She’s brave. And she’s the most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen.”
My heart exploded. He might as well have said, “I love you.” I squeezed his hand back and smiled adoringly at him.
Lilit smiled over her glass and sipped. “A warrior and a poet. You’ve bagged a good one, Nairie.”
“I know.” I blushed furiously.
“And back to Inverness, you go?” she said, turning back to William.
“Unfortunately. I need to run the inn.”
“Maybe Nairie can come visit you. I’m always telling her to explore more.”
William squeezed my hand. “I’d love that. I hear you’re quite the explorer as well. You should come visit one day too.”
Lilit cast her eyes to the horizon. “Ah, yes. I’m always hopping about. It would be lovely to visit your inn. I’m sure it’s as charming as you are. I’ve been to Scotland only once. Reminds me of some very fond memories I once shared with Rebecca in Edinburgh.”
I looked at her eagerly. “Can you tell us more about her? I want to hear about your greatest love.”
Lilit smiled. “How much time do you have?”
William insisted. “Enough.”
I knew he had work to do at the inn, but when I looked at him, he reassured me with a nod and a smile. One thing I learned very quickly with William is that he always made me feel like a priority, even if he had a million other responsibilities.
Lilit relaxed back in her chair. “I’ve run through men most of my life. I’m known as the family tart, and I wear that badge with honor.”
We chuckled, and Lilit looked to the horizon with a far-off look in her eye.
“One day, I was attending a charity function for an orphanage in Spain. My date was a member of the royal court, and I was a donor myself. I despise children, but it was my yearly dose of humanitarianism. At one point during the evening, I stepped out on the veranda for a breath of fresh air. That’s when I first saw her. My Rebecca.”
Lilit stroked the stem of her martini glass.
“She wore a chiffon dress the color of periwinkle. It was absolutely divine. It floated and hugged her body like it was made for her. A wisp of delicate fabric. I thought for sure it was designer, but later, I found out she made it herself. She was a teacher and couldn’t afford clothes like that. ”
Lilit smiled fondly and closed her eyes for a brief moment. “She glowed underneath the moonlight. I half thought she was a figment of my imagination. Like a nymph from one of those Greek tragedies.”
Lilit’s brown eyes found mine, and she smiled. “She had a kind of quiet elegance like royalty. Graceful movements and delicate features. She was consoling one of the children in attendance. He was crying over something or another, and she used the hem of her dress to wipe his snot and tears.”
Lilit shuddered at the memory. “The most beautiful dress I’ve ever seen being treated like that gave me nightmares. But after the shock wore off, I think that’s exactly what made me fall in love with her.”
I knew the way she loved clothes was akin to an art collector.
“Don’t get me wrong,” she said, “positively revolting, but it was tender and selfless. It didn’t take long for us to enter a whirlwind romance. I’d never been with a woman nor she, but we had this undeniable connection. Like our souls knew each other before we did.”