Page 30 of Highland Stars
If there were a future for us, I might tease her about liking it. I might tell her that I would like it as well, but as things are, I pretend not to have noticed her smile. “Up for seeing some sights? Then we can shop for whatever you need to make this chocolate gravy.”
We walk up to the Abertarff House, the oldest residential house in Inverness, and Makenna gasps.
“I love old things.”
I look over and her wide smile is enchanting. I can’t help my answering grin. “There’s plenty of that here.”
The back of her hand brushes mine and I’m tempted to take hold of it, and thread my fingers through hers. She snatches her hand away like she’s been burned and clasps it in front of her.
It’s for the best.
“I’m sure this isn’t terribly exciting to you, since you get to live here, but to me? It’s amazing.”
I’m going to take the fact that she said that Igetto live here and slide it to the back burner for now.
“This was built in the 1500s. Wait until you see the Old High Church. Part of it was built in the 14th century.”
She grins up at me. “I know. I did my research. You’ve accidentally befriended a big nerd.”
“We’re mates, are we?”
She looks concerned. “I mean … I thought so.”
I bump my arm into her shoulder. “I’m just messin’. Of course we are. And it just so happens, I love nerds.”
She bites her bottom lip and smiles. “Would you sayyou’rea nerd?”
“Ach, no. That would be embarrassin’.”
“Malcolm!” The look on her face tells me she doesn’t quite know what to do with me.
“Aye, I’d consider myself a nerd. I’d wager most doctors have at least a little bit of nerdiness to them.”
Makenna grins, and it lights up her whole face, including that dimple that only seems to show itself when she’s wearing her biggest smile. My gaze doesn’t know where to rest, but it finally rests on her twinkling turquoise eyes.
“What would you say is your nerdiest quality?” she asks.
“It’s too soon for that sort of confession, don’t you think?”
“You know mine.”
“Fine.” I laugh and choose one of my nerdy attributes at random. “I have a very extensive rock collection.”
Before we walk into Abertarff House, Makenna’s phone rings from her purse. She pulls it out, looks at the screen, then back at me. “It’s my friend, Mai. Mind if I take it?”
“Not at all.” It will give me a chance to check my phone. It’s been buzzing every two seconds for the past five minutes. I’d be worried, but this is how my family acts in the group chat. There’s no doubt in my mind that’s what’s been happening.
As Makenna walks away from me, I pull my phone from my pocket. It is indeed the family group chat, and I regret looking before I finish reading the first message.
ISLA
Why did we have to hear from Mam that there’s a woman staying at your house, Malcolm?!
AILSA
Yeah, Malcolm. She said she’s very pretty.
ISLA
