“Ginny is covering for me all weekend. I’m fine, Greer. You’re the one making this into a thing,” Callum says as if he hasn’t punched Leo in the face before.
“He’s a fucking prick, he knew what he was doing coming in here, he was purposely taunting you.”
“What’s new?” Callum says, grabbing a ticket and rattling off the order to his staff. “Are you bringing her home tonight? If so, I think I’ll crash at Nan’s.”
I rub the back of my neck.
“We haven’t discussed it yet.”
Callum nods, not even looking at me. This distance between us is growing wider and all I want to do is fix it, but I’m not sure if it can be fixed.
“Well, either way, if you could give me a heads up,” Callum says, and I know it’s taking a great deal of effort for him to be calm and levelheaded about everything. Not just what Lain and I are doing with Maisie, but with Leo showing up here tonight.
“I will. I think if you got to know her—” I start and he just glares at me. “Fine.” I hold up my hands and walk out from the back to the bar. A quick glance shows that Leo is long gone, and it takes a weight off my chest.
Part of me feels bad for Fiona, that she ended up with such a fucking cunt, but I suppose she isn’t the kindest person in the world either.
I smile as I see Maisie’s pretty face. She’s kind, far kinder than she even realizes. Her mission to help Nan and Lain with their business sense makes me feel proud and in awe of her. I’ve told Effie that she needs to step into the new age of technology and to have Graham help her, but she said he had his hands full and that the Heather Beag was fine as is.
Lain’s business does well, but he seems more than happy getting Maisie involved as much as possible. He wants to convince her she should stay in Scotland longer, that maybe with enough time he could persuade her that this is where she belongs.
It’s a long shot, but Lain is persistent, and I want the same thing.
I know that it’s ridiculous liking her this much already, that I sound like a delusional young lad with his first crush, but there’s something about Maisie.
The further she tangles herself into the culture here, with the people, the better chance we have of broaching the subject of her staying. There’s the complication of her sister, however after I saw Arran dropping her off the other night, maybe she won’t be such an obstacle after all.
I lean against the bar, and Maisie automatically tilts her body closer to me like we’re drawn in by this magnetic force.
Maybe we are.
“Would you like to come to ours tonight?” I ask.
She glances back at the kitchen, and I sigh. What happens if we can convince Maisie to spend more time here with the greater picture being her staying forever? Where does that leave Callum?
“He’ll be staying somewhere else,” I tell her and a flush creeps up her neck.
“Then yes. Let me just check in with Birdie,” she says, tapping away on her phone.
I glance over at Lain, and he raises an eyebrow, tipping his head toward Callum. I give him a quick nod to let him know that he’s fine, and he relaxes more into his seat. His arm is tossed over her chair as he plays with a ringlet loose from her hair clip.
There isn’t jealousy ever when it comes to Lain. He and I were on the same playing field with our ex, but with Maisie it’s different. She doesn’t pick favorites, and doesn’t withhold affection. It makes sharing far smoother, that’s for fucking sure. Though a very greedy part of me wants her to myself for a moment.
“You’re staring,” Maisie says, and I move my gaze to her face.
“Aye and you’re being a shite bartender too,” Alan cuts in and I roll my eyes. “Steal my girl, leave my glass empty, what’s next, spitting in my damn face?”
“Be nice, Alan,” Maisie says calmly and the old Scot sighs.
“Of course, dear.”
Lain barks out a laugh and kisses Maisie’s cheek. She preens under his attention and I just know that she has to be feeling this connection between us, there’s no way that this can simply be one sided or just physical, there’s a spark there, a spark that’s blazed brighter than anything I’ve experienced.
“Oh shoot. Do you have somewhere I could charge my phone?” she asks, pulling a charger out of her bag, because of course she carries one around; I find it charming.
“Let’s put it back in the office,” I tell her.
Lain and I exchange a look, but he backs down; he had all day with her and snuggled with her for hours, he can deal.
