“More than I can count. Sometimes we’ll hike up here, all four of us, and not say a single thing—we just get lost in our own thoughts.” Many times, dangerous thoughts.
“I could see how that would be soothing.” She moves past a stack of stone that’s piled in the center of what I imagine was once the castle’s main living space. I once heard the stack was from the turret where the lady would hide from the laird. Apparently, they weren’t the kind of couple who were deeply in love. Maybe that’s why they didn’t stay. “So you’ve known the Murdachs since you were young, I’m assuming.” I nod. “Have you ever had a crush on Isla?”
I rub the side of my jaw. “Aye. We dated for a few months.”
“Seriously?” she asks, eyes wide. “Were you her last boyfriend?”
I shake my head. “No, that was an unfortunate man in a town twenty miles north. After a few months of dating him, she came up to Leith, Lachlan, and me and announced that she was more interested in dating Mac’s sister than him.”
Bonnie laughs. “I wish Dakota’d had a realization like that. Instead, she met Isabella, her ex, through a job I had. Isabella and I would have to work together a lot when our bosses were collaborating on a makeup line. She was very open about her sexuality, and she flirted shamelessly with Dakota. It took Dakota a hot second to understand it, but she was developing feelings for her. Isabella was not only her first but also the girl who made Dakota realize she’s gay.” Bonnie picks up a rock from the ground and tosses it in her hand. “If I ever run into Isabella on the street, I’d give her a piece of her mind. She played games, manipulated Dakota, and really messed her up.”
Not sure what to say, I stay silent.
Bonnie keeps talking, and I’m not surprised—she seems to be a person who, once she starts talking, doesn’t stop.
“I’ve had my fair share of boyfriends, but they never mentally messed with me. Mostly, they were just idiots. Immature, not ready for a relationship. Then again, not sure I was either.” She sighs. “You don’t need to hear this.” She pats her stomach and looks around the ruins. It seems like she’d do anything to avoid eye contact with me. “Where’s the food? This girl is hungry.”
I’m about to call out to Isla when I see her come through an arch, Dakota at her side. “Did I hear someone’s hungry?” she asks.
“Starving,” Bonnie says.
Isla lowers her backpack and unzips it. She and Dakota unfold a blanket, and we’re all taking seats just as Leith and Lachlan join us. Isla passes around some ham sandwiches, and Leith hands out drinks. Together, we feast, and by the companionable silence that settles over us, I can tell the hike has worked up everyone’s appetite.
“Dakota was telling me you were trying to bake some butteries,” Isla finally says, turning to Bonnie.
“You were?” Leith asks, looking far too eager.
“Yeah, I was going to make some to bring on the hike to surprise you guys, but I failed miserably. Six attempts, and they were all epic fails.”
“You should have Rowan help you,” Lachlan suggests with a sly grin.
“I heard he knows how to make a tasty buttery,” Bonnie says.
“You actually spoke to her?” Leith asks, the fucking eejit.
“He spoke a lot,” Bonnie says. “A total chatterbox. Smoke was coming out of his ears from all the overthinking. Fascinating spectacle, actually.” She smirks at me, and hell . . . I like the teasing.
“I’ve seen the smoke before,” Leith says. “But that’s only been when he’s trying to solve a simple math problem. Really takes it out of the big guy.”
“What’s eight times six?” I ask Leith right before taking a bite of my sandwich.
Leith’s eyes narrow, his smarmy smile turning into a frown. “Och, you know I failed miserably with my times tables. Way to hit me where it hurts.”
“It’s true,” Lachlan joins in. “He always got his sixes, sevens, and eights mixed up.”
“They are entirely too close together.”
“So are the other numbers,” I say, and our little circle laughs.
I feel lighter at that collective laugh. I didn’t realize how much I needed this reprieve, this camaraderie, until just now. Things have been heavy with my parents. I’ve felt angry, frustrated . . . hell, embarrassed, since I didn’t even know they were leaving. And being out here, with my friends—old and new—eases the ache in my chest. Gives me a fresh breath of air to my lungs. I glance over at Bonnie, and our eyes meet for a brief second before she turns away and takes a bite of her sandwich. I’ll admit that one little glance did a lot for me as well. Just in the last ten minutes, it feels like something has shifted between us: the anger seems to have dissipated, and a bond is forming. A bond that might develop into something more. My stomach dips. I don’t know—I could be wrong.