Bonnie: If you were one hundred percent Scottish, then I would have seen you in a kilt already.
Rowan: All in good time, lass. Good night. Wish you were here.
Bonnie: Wish I was there too. Good night, Rowan.
I clutch my phone to my chest and stare up at the ceiling as a long sigh flows out of my lungs. Oh God . . . I like the man. A lot.
I like how he cares for me.
How he teases me.
How he’s protective and can sense when something is bothering me.
I like his smile and his deep voice that rattles me to my very core when he whispers in my ear.
I like that he’s proud of me . . .
I like . . . oh God . . . I think I love him.
“Bonnie, hey, wait up.”
I turn to find Isla jogging up to me just as I step onto the Hairy Coo Footpath. It’s early, the fog still lifting off the grass as the sun barely peeks over the horizon. I had a hard time falling asleep last night and wound up waking early, my mind whirring over all the changes in my life.
Rowan.
The coffee shop.
Dakota.
It’s weighing heavily on me.
“Good morning, Isla,” I say, slowing down so she can catch up.
“Morning to ye. Are you open to having a walking partner?”
“Sure,” I answer, right before giving her a hug hello.
Together, we walk down the path and around the bend where I ran smack into a shirtless Rowan, though he’s absent from this go-around. Unfortunately. Wouldn’t mind another sweaty stone wall to the face right about now, especially after not seeing him last night.
“Sorry about getting Dakota back late. If I knew you were worried, I would have never suggested we go out for a bite.”
“Oh, no need to apologize. It’s fine,” I say as the back of my neck heats up with embarrassment. “I’m sorry if I was rude to you.”
She chuckles. “Look at us, apologizing for something so small.”
“Typical ladies,” I joke.
“I do want to make sure you like me, though, because I really like Dakota.”
Shocked, I turn toward her and stop her with a hand to her arm. “Isla, I do like you. Have I given off the vibe that I don’t?”
“No, not really. I mean, maybe a little, and when I asked Dakota about it, she said you’ve just been busy—but I wasn’t sure if that was a cover-up.”
Confrontation—with someone other than Dakota—is not something I’m comfortable with. When it comes to my friendship with Dakota, I can tell her anything, talk to her about anything, and truly express my feelings. But with anyone else, I just turn into an apologetic mess and try to smooth things over quickly so I can be done with the awkward tornado that just blew in and blew out.
“It wasn’t a cover-up.” We start walking again. “I’ve been stressed and maybe . . . a little jealous of the two of you. I know that sounds stupid and I shouldn’t be jealous. I was the one encouraging Dakota to start dating again, but I just felt her pulling away, and it made me a little crazy. If that makes sense.”
“Aye, I understand. You two have such a strong bond.”
“Yes, and after things ended with Isabella, I had Dakota all to myself again, and I soaked that up. Isabella took a lot of Dakota time away from me, and it was painful. Maybe I was having some flashbacks, I don’t know. Either way, I really do like you, Isla. I think you’re lovely and sweet, and I know your intentions are honest. Plus, Rowan has nothing but the best to say about you. He once told me if I should trust my best friend with anyone, it should be you.”
“Thank you. I think very highly of Rowan myself. You two are the perfect balance for each other.”
“We can drive each other mad at the drop of a hat, but we also make each other very happy.”
“And that’s what matters.” We pass the first cattle pasture, but unluckily for us, the cute shaggy beasts are too far away to try to pet, so we keep walking. “Can I ask you something?”
“Sure, anything,” I answer.
“Isabella . . . what did she do to Dakota? I had a lot of fun this past weekend, but I felt Dakota shutting down on me at some points, especially when it came to going to bed. She was very stiff. I ended up holding her to try to get her to relax, and once she did, we were able to have a . . . er . . . a really good evening.”
“When you say ‘really good,’ do you mean you two got frisky?” I laugh, and so does Isla.
“I mean, I don’t kiss and tell.”
“But you sure do blush when you mention it.”