Page 54 of Highland Stars
“Holy smokes, it’s like it was made for you. I have a good eye.”
“And I can really wear this?”
“You can have it. I’m getting it at a steal, and Malcolm already told me he’s paying me back.”
“Are you serious? He doesn’t have to do that. I’ll pay you back.”
“Nope. You’re going to this dance for him. He can pay.” She pulls me back to the mirror where she takes a better look at thefit of the dress, tugging and shifting things until it sits where she likes it. “Looks like we’ll have to go bra shopping and shoe shopping.”
“One of those sounds more fun than the other,” I say, my eyes glued to myself in this dress.
Fiona laughs. “That’s true.” She straightens and steps back, continuing to look at me. “Malcolm will pass out when he sees you.”
I roll my eyes. “Oh yeah, that’s likely.”
“Makenna. I’m serious. Do you not see yourself?”
I consider myself again in the mirror. I do look pretty good. Better than I’ve ever looked, really. Though, I still can’t see myself measuring up to Malcolm.
But … he did ask me to go with him. He wouldn’t have if he was going to be embarrassed by me. And sometimes I think there’s something in his eyes. Like he likes what he sees. I know he likes my personality, but could there be more attraction there?
“Listen,” Fiona says. “I know my brother. He’s nice, and he wants to help, but I doubt you’d still be here if he wasn’t interested.”
I turn to face her. “Really?”
“Really.”
30
Malcolm
“You’redoingitagain.”Rory’s voice startles me and I straighten from my lean against the empty nurses’ station.
“Doing what?”
“Staring off into the distance, thinking about Makenna.”
I sigh. “I was just wondering what she’s up to.”
“You’ve got it bad …”
My kneejerk reaction is to deny it, but what’s the point in that? He knows. He encouraged me to give it a try with her.
“Aye. And now I don’t know what to do. I can’t tell how she feels, and I don’t want to scare her off. But she’s only here another week. At some point I’ll have to do something.”
“Test the waters a little. Be more affectionate and see how she responds.”
“I’ve done that a little. Some on purpose, some by accident.”
“By accident?”
“I felt her hair.”
Rory barks a laugh, drawing the attention of the patient who’d been pacing in the nearest exam room. The man opens the door. “I’ve been waiting over an hour! What’s going on?”
“We’re still waiting on your bloodwork, Mr. Adair,” Rory answers. “Dr. Robertson will be in as soon as we have it.”
“Aye, sure. Tell them to keep taking their time.” Mr. Adair lets the door close and heads back to his bed.
