Total pages in book: 107
Estimated words: 102731 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 514(@200wpm)___ 411(@250wpm)___ 342(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 102731 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 514(@200wpm)___ 411(@250wpm)___ 342(@300wpm)
“But it didn’t. Your mum is alive. And Andros is in prison.”
“I … two years ago, I asked Mum to find out more about him.” I hadn’t told Lewis or anyone that. Only Mum and Dad knew. “He’s still in the same prison in California. He’s been diagnosed by a psychologist. Andros has an antisocial personality disorder. He’s a sociopath, Lewis. My birth father is a diagnosed sociopath. That’s what I’m made of.”
“No.” Lewis turned me fully toward him, his expression fierce. “The only thing he gave you was the color of your eyes. That’s it. You are good and kind and strong.”
“Like my mum?”
“Aye, but more than that, you’re you because of what you’ve experienced. You’ve been through so much, Callie. And you moved to an entirely different country and took it all in stride. Everything you’ve been through makes you more compassionate. You don’t judge, you see the best in people despite all the bad you’ve witnessed, and you’re the fiercest friend anyone could ask for.”
Love was an ache in my chest. “I like the way you see me.”
“Good, because I see you the way you are.”
Embarrassed, I apologized. “I’m sorry for waking you.”
“Don’t apologize.” He snuggled me close. “I still have nightmares too sometimes. Out of the blue. I can’t remember much about them other than the leftover feelings they cause.”
I hated that he still had nightmares, but it was comforting to know he understood. “What feelings?”
“The fear I felt when Mum’s ex attacked Aunt Ery and dragged us into the annex. I thought we were going to die. Then he left us there and Eilidh was terrified, and I felt like shit because I didn’t know how to help her.”
“Oh, Lewis, you were only a wee boy.” I smoothed a hand over his chest. “If I had one wish, it would be that you stopped trying to carry the weight of the whole world on your shoulders. Not everything and everyone is your responsibility.”
“I know that.” He flashed me a boyish grin that made my belly flutter. “Just the people I love.” His smile died, and he clasped my face in his hand, his thumb brushing my cheek. “I’d do anything for you.”
It was official. I was ruined. Lewis Adair made all other boys my age pale in comparison. They were emotionally immature and self-absorbed. Lewis was the complete opposite. Part naturally older than his years, part molded by his experiences, Lewis was mature, open, caring, loving. He made me feel safe … and no one else would ever do.
“I love you,” I whispered.
He sighed and leaned his forehead against mine. “Never stop,” he pleaded hoarsely. “Because I’ll never stop loving you.”
Five
LEWIS
PRESENT DAY
“Aren’t you going to be late?” Fyfe asked.
I glanced over at my laptop, open on a video call with my friend. He was dressed in a button-down shirt because he’d come from a meeting with my uncles. It was no exaggeration to say that Fyfe was a computer genius. While at Edinburgh Uni studying computer science, he’d created an online game in his spare time that grew so popular, he sold it for millions. By the time he graduated, he already had more money in the bank than he knew what to do with, and had been recruited by one of his professors to join his cybersecurity team after helping him with several jobs during his education.
Now Fyfe was back in Ardnoch, ran a small cybersecurity team, and had taken over the management of protecting my families’ businesses. He ran all the tech security at Ardnoch Estate and the whisky distillery and also managed the cybersecurity of some of the estate’s celebrity members.
He’d come a long way from the grungy teenager with a chip on his shoulder he only ever let me see.
“You know I don’t want to go.”
“It’s Eilidh,” Fyfe reminded me. “And she might pretend like she doesn’t need anyone, but she needs you. More than ever, probably.”
“She’s changed since you knew her, Fyfe. She’s … she’s all in my business and everyone else’s, but whenever anyone tries to dig deeper into hers, she evades like a champ.”
“More reason for you to go to her wrap party. Make sure she’s behaving.”
I snorted at that. “What are you up to this fine Friday night?”
Fyfe glanced at his phone. “I actually have a date.”
“Finally.”
“Says the bloke on the longest dry spell known to man.”
“Fuck you,” I replied without rancor.
He chuckled. “I’m just saying … maybe tonight’s the night.”
I gave him a look because he knew me.
My friend nodded. “Well, some of us are less discerning. I, for one, intend to get laid this evening.”
“Enjoy.” I walked over to the laptop, envious of his ability to take his feelings out of sex. “Talk to you later?”
“Aye. I’ve got a meeting in London in a couple weeks, so maybe we can grab a beer?”