CHAPTER TEN ~ ABBY ~ NOW #3
The way he studies my face makes me want to squirm. Graeme always saw me in a way no one else did; the weight of his gaze makes me wonder what he sees now.
“That’s the third time today you’ve apologized to me,” he says.
I think back to earlier when I threw an apology over my shoulder as I bolted from the apartment, then again when Graeme caught me after he opened the door. “No more apologizing then,” I say. “Let’s take a ‘nae bother’ attitude.”
He laughs under his breath. “Aren’t Canadians known for saying sorry, though?”
“We are,” I concede. “Saying sorry is practically a national pastime. I even say sorry to inanimate objects when I run into them or knock them over.”
“I remember.” His smile turns wistful, but I don’t have a chance to think too much about it before he says, “I want to see if there’s a way for us to get back to how we used to be. We can’t do that if we avoid each other.”
When he says ‘how we used to be’, I know he means as friends, but that doesn’t stop my mind from conjuring up images of Graeme’s mouth on mine, his large hands skimming my bare skin, or the deep rumble of his voice in my ear as we...
nope. Not going there. “That sounds like an admission that you’ve been doing some avoiding of your own. ”
“You caught that, did you?” he says with another soft laugh. “I might have taken on a bit more at work than necessary, especially considering I knew you lot were coming.”
“Okay, so no more apologizing and no more avoiding each other,” I say.
“Deal. I think we can both acknowledge that things might be a wee bit awkward as we reconnect, but...we always promised each other we’d be the best of friends. Remember?”
“Of course.” As if I could ever forget. Or ever want to forget. Despite the distance between us the last few years, Graeme MacKinlay is the best friend I’ve ever had next to Drew.
He gives a decisive nod, and I return the gesture. He motions for us to start walking, and we fall into step side by side. “So Doune Castle,” he says. “Are you an Outlander fan?”
“We all are, actually, even Brodie. Drew and I have been addicted from the start, though, and we loved that more people became interested in Scotland because of the show.”
“Oh, aye, the number of tourists who come to Scotland hunting for their own Jamie Fraser is something else.” He chuckles, shaking his head.
“It has been braw for tourism. At first, all the tourists I encountered only seemed interested in the Jamie connection, but I’ve since learned many of them have taken the time to learn more about the Jacobite rebellions, the clearances, and the lasting impact on Scottish culture.
I’ve had some interesting conversations in the most random places, and even over a pint at the pub. ”
I smile to myself, imagining Graeme sitting in a pub with a bunch of tourists, discussing Scottish history. I bet they hang on his every word. Sam Heughan may be sexy as Jamie Fraser, but he’s got nothing on my hot Scot.
My thoughts judder to a halt. Graeme isn’t mine, and I need to remember that.
“That’s not to say you don’t get the brazen and obnoxious people too,” Graeme says, pausing at my side as I squat to take a picture of a patch of daffodils with the castle in the background.
“If I had a pound for every time a stranger asked what Scots wear under their kilts...” He trails off, rolling his eyes and shaking his head.
I know what Graeme wears under his kilt, but I’m not going there either. “I’ll never understand people’s thought process. How do they think it’s remotely okay to ask anyone that, let alone a stranger?”
He makes a sound of agreement. “It’s something that’s always happened, but I suspect the fact the show and the books are so...spicy...” He side-eyes me, a hint of a smile tugging at one corner of his mouth. “Did I use that correctly?”
I nod, unable to contain a giggle.
“Right, so the fact they’re so spicy has emboldened people and made them forget all sense. They want the fantasy of their own Jamie Fraser, and I swear it’s made some of them unhinged.”
I laugh again, harder this time. “‘Unhinged’ sounds about right. You don’t have to worry about that with us, at least. Drew already has her hot Scot, and I...
” Shit. My mouth ran away with me there.
Where was I even going with that? The way Graeme searches my face, eyebrows raised, makes me think he’s wondering the same thing.
How do I finish that sentence? I had my chance and ruined it? I let someone who’s more incredible than any fictional character slip through my fingers? I open and close my mouth a few times, but no words come.
Graeme is still eyeing me curiously, even as he lets out a barely audible sigh. “You realize it’s all fiction, and you’re here for the real Scottish experience?”
“Yes, exactly that.” Relief makes the words spill out in a rush. “And part of the real Scottish experience is going inside this castle and learning about its non-Outlander-related history.”
Graeme gives a half bow and sweeps his arm toward the entrance. “Lead on then, Sassenach.”