“Stop.” Arro put a hand up near her face, and Eredine and I laughed at Robyn’s stunned look. “He is my brother, and as far as I’m concerned, my brothers are as chaste as monks.”
“I wasn’t going to say anything dirty.” Robyn raised an eyebrow as we followed Arro’s lead around the kitchen. “Unlike some people”—she shot me a look—“I am a lady.”
I guffawed. “What did I do?”
“You always provide too much information.”
“Ooh, about who?” Arro asked. “Do you have your eye on someone?”
I wanted to shoot my sister a killing look, but I knew that would be too obvious. “No. Robyn’s talking about past boyfriends.”
“Well, good luck here, anyway.” Arro made a face. “Living in a small village doesn’t exactly make it easy to meet someone. Look at me. Look at Thane.”
She didn’t say look at Eredine, but I knew we were all thinking it.
“Speaking of my brother,” Arro said to me as I followed her into the dining room with the huge bowl of roast potatoes, “is something wrong between you two? I sense a distinct chill.”
I shrugged off her comment like it was nonsense, giving her one of my breezy smiles. “Not at all. We’re great.”
She narrowed her eyes like she didn’t quite believe me. “Guess I was wrong, then.”
Deciding that a week was enough time for this nonsense between me and Thane to have gone on, I knew I’d have to chat with him and clear the air. To be honest, his behavior had put a damper on my feelings. It was illuminating to see how much of an asshole he could be. I was done trying to be understanding about his position in all this.
Despite Thane’s determination to treat me like I didn’t exist, dinner was great fun. Food was involved, so it meant Eilidh sat still throughout the whole thing and enjoyed being the center of attention. Lewis insisted on sitting next to me at the table, so I spent a good part of the meal talking with him about the video game he was playing with his friends online during the hours he was allowed. He was irritated because his friends’ parents let them play longer than he was permitted, and they kept wanting to play this particular game without him. To distract him from his irritation, I asked him to explain the entire game to me.
He did. In detail. And I loved him so I tried not to die of boredom.
At one point, I glanced up from our discussion to find Thane watching us with a furrow between his brows. He looked away as soon as our eyes met.
After dinner, it was gift-giving time, and I experienced a brief flutter of nervousness in my belly. I’d helped the kids pick out their gift to their dad, but I’d bought Thane something just from me a few weeks ago. When we were still friends. I wasn’t sure how I felt about giving it to him now.
Especially in front of everyone.
We settled in the living room, Eilidh tucked on Thane’s lap because she was a little sleepy after the food, and Lewis by my side. Lachlan opened his gifts first.
Robyn had given him a photo I’d taken under her direction down on the beach. It was a gorgeous black-and-white headshot of her looking at the water. She’d almost backed out of the gift, thinking it was cheesy and vain, but I’d convinced her to stick with it. Sourcing a frame that matched the interior of his office at work, she added the photo and wrapped it.
I was nervous for her because I could tell by the way she was biting her lip that she still had doubts. When Lachlan opened it, he just stared at it. She shifted uncomfortably in the large armchair beside him.
“It’s … I thought you could put it in your office or something … but it seems stupid now. I—”
“I love it.” He turned to smolder at her, and I felt a mix of happiness and envy. Once again, I couldn’t help but think how amazing it would be to have a guy love me like Lachlan loved Robyn. But deep down, I didn’t believe that would ever happen. A guy might love me … but not like that. Robyn was the kind of woman who inspired that kind of love.
“You do?” She still seemed unsure.
“You’re beautiful.” He stared at the picture. “I love it,” he repeated, and then frowned. “But who took it?”
“Regan.”
He smiled at me with his eyes. “You captured her perfectly.”
I grinned. “I know.”
Lachlan laughed softly and then leaned into Robyn to brush a kiss across her mouth. “Later,” he murmured, but we all heard him.
“Speaking of … I have another gift for you, but—” Robyn smirked at me, mischief in her gaze. “I left it in the bedroom.”