He was already carrying around enough crap.
I wouldn’t be something he regretted too. I’d rather live with the rejection than that.
Reaching down at my side, I slipped my hand into his. “Friends forever,” I mouthed.
Mac’s gaze brightened, and he squeezed my hand in thanks.
And I looked back up at the sky, watching the fireworks, pretending that my heart wasn’t breaking with every single explosion.
1
Arro
PRESENT DAY
Ardnoch, Sutherland
Scottish Highlands
* * *
For seven years, I’d watched the great hall of my family’s castle transformed for one event after another. Never before, however, had a moment felt so right as this one. I was walking down the aisle as a bridesmaid in my big brother’s wedding. Chairs filled the space on either side of the champagne-gold carpet runner. Old-fashioned lanterns punctuated each row of chairs, leading up and then around to the impressive staircase that led to a landing backlit by the floor-to-ceiling stained glass windows my brother had lovingly restored. On the landing waited Lachlan, Thane, our minister, and my nephew Lewis, who was adorable and handsome in his kilt that matched his father’s and uncle’s.
Thane’s daughter, Eilidh, flounced up the stairs, throwing the last of her red rose petals, the skirt of the flower girl dress she’d chosen bouncing dramatically to reveal her petticoat. As she’d intended. Lips twitching at my niece’s excitement, I watched her beam at her uncle and father, and my chest ached at the loving look both men sent her. Only a few months ago, both Eilidh and Lewis had been in a dark situation no child should ever experience, and I’d worried how we’d get them through it. But children were resilient, and to my everlasting gratitude, they seemed happy and content.
Regan Penhaligon, the younger sister of Lachlan’s soon-to-be wife, sashayed ahead of me in her maid of honor gown, and my gratitude extended toward her. I knew she had so much to do with Eil’s and Lew’s current happiness. She glowed in her silver dress, her hair a copper-red version of mine, styled in elaborately pinned curls. Regan took the stairs with ease, lifting her gown to do so, and envy scored through me at the smoldering look she shared with Thane before taking the position opposite him. As she reached for Eilidh’s hand, my niece snuggled into Regan’s side, and my brother looked so in love, he might burst with it.
I’d never seen this version of Thane. Not growing up, not when Fran was alive. Regan made him young in a way he never was when he was her age. They’d worried about their thirteen-year-age gap, but not enough to stop them. They’d tumbled headlong into their passionate love story because neither of them could see any other way.
It was a strange feeling, this mixture of joy and relief for my brother, at the same time knowing his love was the catalyst for the destruction of my own.
Stop it, I chided as I took the steps. I shoved away all selfish, melancholy thoughts and grinned at Lachlan, who smiled back tenderly. I shared another smile with Regan as I stood beside her. Today wasn’t about me.
I faced the wedding guests who came from all walks of life—villagers and friends we’d grown up with, actors, singers, athletes, well-known directors, writers, and the not-so-familiar faces of Robyn’s friends and family from Boston. And right there in the front row were my brothers Brodan and Arran, both of whom had returned to the family fold for the wedding.
Arran had been gone so long, there was tension among us all. But on such a happy day, I wanted to feel nothing but relief that my brother, closest in age to me, the one I’d chased after as a child, was safe and home. At least for now.
Our eyes met, and Arran gave me that boyish smile so like Lachlan’s. Then I lost his attention as it drifted to the bridesmaid walking past him.
Our friend, Eredine Willows, took the stairs elegantly in her silver gown. She had so much hair, the stylist had only pinned up half of her dark brown curls; the rest fell down her back. The silver fabric sparkled against Eredine’s golden-brown skin, and the dress molded to her lithe, elegant figure. She looked like a movie star or a supermodel.
It wasn’t just Arran who couldn’t take his eyes off her. Knowing how much she hated any kind of attention, I moved closer in silent comfort as she stopped beside me. Ery was followed by Robyn’s best friend from Boston, Jasmine, or Jaz, as she preferred. Jaz looked regal, the silver of her gown stunning against her umber skin, her braids arranged in an elaborate updo that made mine look boring.
How Robyn had chosen a metallic fabric and silhouette for her bridesmaids’ dresses that suited all our body shapes and coloring, I did not know. Maybe it was the photographer in her, and she just understood these things naturally, like she did composition and light.
And then there she was.
Robyn Penhaligon, soon to be Adair.
I’d already seen her, of course. We spent all morning together in a guest suite turned bridal room.
She somehow was the sexiest but classiest bride I’d ever seen in her fit-and-flare white dress. It had a deep sweetheart neckline masked by lace edging, and because of a wee bit of sheer material, it looked as if someone had artfully painted the lace on her skin. The sleeves were lace, skin peeking through here and there. The dress sculpted her body as if it, too, was painted on, and then it flared out from the knee into a train with delicate lace edging. I knew the back was daringly low, with silk button detail that accentuated a round arse perfected by running and MMA training.
She was stunning.
I looked at Lachlan, and tears threatened at the utter awe on his face as she walked toward him, holding his gaze. Had a man ever loved a woman as much as this? My chest tightened with the ache. No one deserved it more. To have this kind of love in his life. Lachlan had been looking after us all for years, for too long, and it was about time he had a partner who made him feel less alone.
Reluctantly, I looked back at Robyn, at the man whose arm she held as they moved down the aisle. I’d avoided him when he’d arrived to collect his daughter to give her away to his best friend and boss.