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She turns her head away, making my lips brush across her cheek. "I don't believe in fate. This is a crock of shit, and you know it."
I place one finger on her chin, compelling her to look at me. "I will come back for you."
"You seem to be forgetting one important part of the Erica and Lachlan story. They broke up. We had a fling, like they did, and it's time for you to go home."
"Not a fling." I rub the pad of my thumb over her lips. "And you're forgetting Erica and Lachlan got back together."
"Then I guess you'd better leave it to fate to decide what happens to us."
Bloody hell, is she stubborn. I stare into her eyes, my thumb on her bottom lip, while the silence stretches on and on, broken only by the muted barking of puppies outside. At last, I lower my hand. "I love you, Calli. I always will."
I press my lips to hers, softly exploring them. She holds perfectly still, though her lips yield to mine.
There's nothing more I can do to convince her, not today.
Stepping away from Calli, I turn and shamble to the front door where my bags wait for me. I pick them up, and with one hand on the doorknob, I hesitate.
"I know you're afraid," I say, glancing over my shoulder at her. "I understand why. And honestly, I have no idea what's going to happen with Seona. All I know is I don't want to live the rest of my life without you. Maybe that's why I believe in fate, because it's my last hope for a happy ending with the only woman I've ever loved."
I walk out the door. The click of it shutting sounds much louder in my mind.
Movement inside the window by the door makes me roll my eyes in that direction.
Calli stands there with tears streaming down her face while she peeks between the curtains to watch me go.
Jamie and Gavin wait by the Mustang, holding hands. When they see me, Gavin gives Jamie a quick kiss and says something to her, his expression so affectionate and tender it makes my chest hurt again. At least my sister is happy.
Jamie and I pile into the hired car with our luggage. I slide in behind the wheel and jam the key into the ignition, twisting it. The engine growls to life.
In the rearview mirror, I see Gavin heading for the house. At least Calli won't be alone. Her brother will take care of her.
While the car roars down the gravel driveway, dust pluming up behind it, Jamie reaches out to lay her hand over mine on the wheel. "It will work out, I know it will. Have faith, Aidan."
"I do, but Calli is…stubborn."
"So she's nothing at all like you, eh?"
"Not in the mood for jokes right now."
Jamie kisses my cheek, then switches her attention to the scenery racing past us.
I will get Calli back. Somehow. Even if it takes the rest of my life.
Chapter Thirty-Two
Lachlan's jet is waiting for us at the airport, waiting to carry me away from Calli. Though I've resolved to get her back, I still have nothing resembling any sort of plan for how to accomplish that feat. I need to give her time, but not too much. She worries about everything, which means she could brood about things for a very long time before she realizes how pointless that is.
Jamie sleeps for most of the trip home. I guess Gavin wore her out.
And thinking about that makes me want to batter him, but only for a few seconds. Then I remember how happy my sister has been since she met Gavin, and all I want is for the two of them to feel like I had when I was with Calli, until the world came crashing down on us. My eyes water and sting. When I swipe away the wetness, I tell myself I was not about to cry. I…had grit in my eyes.
Bollocks. Now I'm deluding myself. Of course I'd been about to cry. I just left the woman I love, for pity's sake, so I have no reason to feel ashamed of shedding a few tears.
When we land at the Inverness airport, the pilot offers to carry our luggage for us. Jamie and I clomp down the stairs and onto the tarmac.
Our entire family is waiting for us, including several of our cousins.
Ma and Da hug me and tell me things will work out in the end, but then, parents are meant to say that sort of rubbish. Aren't they? My parents do, though I probably shouldn't call it rubbish. They mean every word they say. Niall and Sorcha MacTaggart have the kind of relationship I've always wanted to find with a woman. Now I have found it, but I may not get my fairy-tale ending.
