“I was so worried,” Isla says. “I didn’t want to give you space but felt like you needed it.”
Dakota sighs quietly. “I’m not . . . all the way mentally healthy. Isabella did a number on my confidence. I want to be strong for you, Isla, but I just don’t know how to be, and I don’t want you to resent me for it.”
“You don’t need to be strong for me—you just need to be honest.” I sway a little, turning slightly, because good God do I need to see what’s happening. From the corner of my eye, I catch Isla cupping Dakota’s cheeks. “I’m falling for you, Dakota, so hard, and I know it’s going to be a journey battling your demons, but I don’t want you to do it alone. Let me battle them with you.”
Jesus, if Dakota doesn’t snag Isla, I very well might. Talk about total jackpot.
“I don’t want to put you through that,” Dakota answers stubbornly. I’m seconds away from slapping some sense into her when strong Isla swoops in again.
“That’s what relationships are for, though—to lean on each other and guide one another through the good . . . and the bad. There’s so much more to you than what happened with Isabella. That’s a small bump in the road that I know we can conquer together, but you have to trust me to help get you over it.”
“I do trust you. You’ve showed me what kindness is in a partner. You’ve provided me with encouragement and strength; even through my insecurities, I can see how valuable you are. How important, the kind of graceful and positive impact you’ve had on my life. I’m just . . . I’m nervous. I don’t want to be a burden.”
“You’re never a burden to me.” Isla pulls her closer. “You’re a blessing.”
Yup, here come the waterworks. There’s no way I can play incognito at this point. I fully turn around and stare just as Isla closes the distance between them and brings her mouth to Dakota’s. Just look at them. Happiness wraps around them and shines brightly through every shared glance and touch. It’s everything I could ever ask for when it comes to my best friend: happiness.
But as I watch them kiss, hold each other tightly, press their foreheads together while talking softly about how much they care for each other, one thought invades my mind: Can I ever get there with Rowan?
After what Leith told me, Rowan’s absence, his anger as he roared at me to leave, my guess is probably no.
And that makes me incredibly sad.
“You know, I just feel weird being here,” I say to Dakota and Isla, who are holding hands across from me at Fergie’s, kissing each other every two seconds. After the grand makeup, I drove the MINI Cooper back to Corsekelly so Isla and Dakota could drive together. I didn’t mind—until my head started spinning with thoughts about Rowan.
Before we drove back, I took out my phone and sent him a few texts, hoping I would hear from him, since today was supposed to be a big day, but when we parked the cars and I checked my phone, there was nothing.
It’s put me in a weird mood, and sitting across from two freshly reconciled lovebirds is making me even sadder than before.
“I think I’m going to go.”
“What? No, stay,” Dakota says. “I don’t want you to feel weird around us.”
“I don’t feel weird around you two. I just . . . I’m feeling a little sad over the whole Rowan thing, and I don’t want to be a Debbie Downer. Plus, you two need some time together.”
“I want to spend time with you too,” Dakota says, and I can see the indecision in her eyes, trying to balance a friendship and a relationship at the same time.
Smiling at her, I reach across the table and take her hand. “There will be plenty of time to spend with me. Just promise I get a night sometime this week, okay?”
“I promise.” She smiles back.
I turn to Isla. “Thank you for taking care of my best friend. I appreciate you so much.”
“That means a lot to me.”
We exchange quick hugs before I leave the pub and head back to the cottage. I know there’s cake stashed in the kitchen, and I have a heavy inkling that I’m about to eat it all. The town is quiet, most of the noise and activity coming from the pub, with a few stragglers here and there. I take a deep breath, savoring the fresh breeze off the loch. I never thought I’d fall in love with a town, but here I am, head over heels for Corsekelly, and yet . . . it doesn’t feel right.
Nothing has felt right since my fight with Rowan. It’s as if that fight dug an empty hole inside me and I’m trying to fill it with whatever I can, but it’s not working. Nothing is working.