— Why? To complicate an already complicated situation?
— No. So you don’t miss something that could be real.
I swirl the whisky in my glass, watching the amber liquid.
— Jane has her life in Los Angeles. Films to shoot, a career to rebuild. I live here, I run the family business, I have responsibilities to hundreds of employees. Our worlds are completely different.
— Different worlds meet all the time, Ewan says philosophically. That’s what makes life interesting.
— And sometimes impossible, I add.
— Nothing is impossible for a McGregor. Isn’t that what your grandmother always says?
I smile despite myself.
— You’ve got a point.
A comfortable silence settles between us. Ewan has always had a way of pushing me to think beyond my self-imposed limits, of making me consider possibilities I would otherwise dismiss.
— You like her, don’t you? I ask finally.
— Jane? Of course. She’s refreshing. And I genuinely think she could be good for you.
Something tightens in my chest, though I can’t quite explain why.
— How can you be so sure after one meeting?
— Scottish instinct, he replies, tapping his nose. The same one that made me choose you as my best friend twenty-five years ago, despite your unhealthy obsession with alphabetical order and Excel spreadsheets.
I laugh, grateful for the lightness.
— Speaking of Excel, I need to finalize the ceremony planning. Grandmother invited half the Highlands, and the other half will invite themselves.
— Always so romantic, Ewan sighs. At least promise me you’ll enjoy tomorrow’s excursion. Show her what you love about this place—why it matters to you. Not Callum the businessman, but the one who used to marvel at the stars when we camped by the loch.
I nod slowly.
— I can do that.
— And if you could avoid mentioning contractual clauses for at least a few hours, that would be ideal.
— I’ll try, I mutter.
— One last thing, Ewan adds, getting to his feet. If you ever decide this marriage isn’t just a temporary arrangement?—
— That won’t happen, I cut in.
— But if it did, he continues, ignoring me, just know I’ll be here to stop you from ruining everything with your excessive pragmatism.
— I don’t need a matchmaker, thank you very much.
— Oh, you absolutely do. Without me, you’d probably be married to your laptop.
With that, he heads for the door but pauses before stepping out.
— You know what your problem is, Callum?
— I have a feeling you’re about to tell me whether I want to hear it or not.
