Callie’s pink nose wrinkles. “No.”
“Irn Bru?”
“Strangely, that wasn’t on my list, either.” She makes a face. “Still don’t like it.”
I ignore that comment. “Learn to bake shortbread?”
“No, but I should add that. I have a feeling Patty would willingly teach me.”
“Undoubtedly,” I agree. I’m also drawing a blank. “Boat on a loch?”
“No.”
“See a castle?”
“Yes!”
I’m unreasonably proud that I’ve hit upon something on her list. “We can make that happen, you know. There’s a castle not too far from here. It’s in ruins, but it’s old.”
Callie grabs my forearm. “Really?”
“So long as the roads are open.”
“Gavin, that would be amazing.”
“I’ll make you a trade. I’ll take you to the castle if you tell me the rest of your list.”
“Fine.”
Guilt sweeps through me. “I take it back. You don’t have to tell me. I’ll take you anyway.”
Her smile is sweet. “I figured. I’ll tell you most of it.”
Most?
“I have some pride, Gavin.”
“There’s nothing on that list that will make me think less of you, Callie.”
“You say that so confidently.”
“I’ve had a chance to get to know you.” I shrug, though she probably can’t tell beneath my thick winter coat. “I’m fairly confident.”
“See a Scottish castle. Pet a Highland cow. Touch the standing stones. Learn a Gaelic phrase. Take a picture with a man in a kilt—I’m disappointed I couldn’t mark that one off at the party the other night—and have someone call me Sassenach.”
“But you aren’t English.”
“My ancestors are.” She’s quiet for a moment. “Is that what it means? I thought it meant outsider.”
“The root of the word comes fromSaxon,” I tell her.
“I still want it,” she says. “It stays on the list.”
I throw my hands up in surrender. “It’s your list.”
Her smile is triumphant.
“Is that everything?” I ask.
