“Does she?” He lifts an eyebrow.
“I kind of gave up on that bucket list. The Christmas we have going on here has been wonderful in its own right.”
“Well, I can’t produce the stones for you. Not without an hour’s drive. I can take you to see that Scottish castle later if you’d like.”
“Really?”
“After I finish helping your mum with the gingerbread houses.”
A surge of affection blows through my chest, imagining him in the kitchen hanging out with Mom. “You didn’t have to do that.”
“Och, I don’t mind. Gave me something to do while we waited for you lot to wake up.”
I smile, unable to hide the way I’m feeling about him. “This afternoon, then?”
“It’s a plan.”
Mom,Dad, and Luna decided to join our outing. We waited until lunch was over and snuck out while Rhys put Oliver down for his nap. It’s a snug fit in the Land Rover. I’m sandwiched between Mom and Luna in the back seat while Dad and Gavin talk in the front.
“Can you believe the mountains here?” Mom asks, looking through the window. “They’re just so majestic.”
Luna shoots me a look. “It’s an otherworldly beauty, for sure.”
“I can’t get over it.”
“We know,” I say.
Mom drags her gaze from the window. “I’m overdoing it again, aren’t I? Dad said I overdid it last night.”
Luna pushes against my shoulder, trying to lean closer. “What are you trying to do, anyway?”
“Make us look good.” Mom’s eyes cut to me and a sly smile curves her lips.
I look between them. “Oh my gosh, are you two in league together?”
“What did Luna do?” Mom asks.
“I don’t know, but it was something.”
Luna sits back in her seat.
Mom reaches over me and tugs on Luna’s arm to bring her close again. “Tell me.”
“I might have dragged my feet on Callie’s arrival day so she could spend some extra time here alone,” she whispers.
My dramatic gasp is only half-authentic. I’d suspected as much, but to know she reallydid prioritize matchmaking over seeing me stung a little. “How could you?”
“I’ve met him before, remember?” Her eyes slide to Gavin.
Gosh, I’m glad Dad is talking so loudly. There’s no way Gavin’s picking up on all of this.
“You guys are perfect for each other,” Luna continues.
“Scotland,” I say. “UCLA. Four and a half more years…almost five.”
“The rest of your life,” Mom cuts in. “Doesn’t that factor in?”
I swivel hard, giving her a stare. “You’re not serious. You’ve already lost one kid to the UK.”
