The Highland Crush (True Scotsman Book 3) by Amy McGavin

Author:Amy McGavin [McGavin, Amy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Grumpy Grouse Press
Published: 2024-07-30T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER NINETEEN

LEWIS

Age twenty-one

There’s a knock on my bedroom door. “Lewis? Are you ready to go?”

I open it slowly, rubbing my temple with one hand. “Hi, Maw,” I mumble.

She’s in a beautiful black velvet dress, her hair styled in a chic twist. Behind her stand Jamie and Da, both looking sharp and ready for the evening ahead.

With horror, Maw takes in my white T-shirt and grey joggies. “Lewis! What are you wearing? You can’t go like that!”

The four of us are supposed to be heading to Inverness for a casino-night fundraiser at Jamie’s rugby club. Neither Ally nor I ever took a shine to the sport the way Da hoped we would, but Jamie is a mean winger. I don’t particularly like complimenting him, given how annoying he is as a wee brother, but I’ll concede that when he gets the ball, it’s an impressive sight. He’s fast and can really tear down the pitch with it. He’s hoping to go pro, and Da—who’s ridiculously proud of him—reckons he’s got it in him.

Leaning against the doorframe, I cough and clear my throat. “I don’t think I’ll make it tonight,” I say softly, as though even speaking causes me pain. “I’ve got this terrible headache.”

“Oh, my baby!” Maw draws me into a hug.

Jamie, meanwhile, laughs. “Bollocks! Developing a mysterious illness on a night Iona is home from Glasgow? C’mon, Lewis, you’re not even trying to be subtle anymore. Just admit it already: the two of you are shagging.”

“Oi! Da, are you going to let him speak like that?”

“Your brother’s right,” Da says to Jamie in that low, rumbling voice of his. “Don’t say that kind of thing when we’re in a corridor. A guest might hear you.”

“That wasn’t my objection,” I say. “My objection was Jamie saying it at all. Iona and I are just friends—and I really am ill.”

“Pfft. Aye, right.” Jamie folds his arms.

“You two go downstairs and get in the car,” Maw says to Da and Jamie. “I want to have a quick chat with my baby to see if he’s okay. He is looking a little peaky.”

“Why do you always call Lewis your baby?” Jamie questions. “He’s not the youngest—Cat is. He’s not even the youngest boy—that’s me.”

“Aye, but just look at him.” Maw cups my face in her hands and gives it a squeeze. “Butter wouldn’t melt. When you were children, unlike the rest of you, Lewis never wriggled out of a hug or protested about being kissed. Even now . . .” She gives my cheek a peck. “See? He lets me do it. Would you, Jamie, without some cheeky comment? Or Ally without a grumble? Or Cat without a moody teenage tantrum? No. But Lewis? Always. He may be the second oldest, but he’s the only one who still lets me fuss over him.”

Jamie tuts and shakes his head. “Mate,” he says to me, “your relationship with Maw is so unhealthy. And Maw, are you forgetting he’s supposed to be ill? Actually, don’t worry about that—I don’t think you can catch being super horny for Iona.

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