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I give Grace one more quick hug, then she opens the door and hurries to the car. All I can do is stand and watch as David pulls out then drives off.
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
AIDAN
“Will you stop moaning and pass me another pin so I can hang this up?” Ally is up a ladder in the Bannock Hotel’s function room, clutching a banner that says happy new year.
“Sorry. Here you go.” I hand him a drawing pin.
It’s Hogmanay, and for the very first time, the hotel is putting on an event to celebrate the end of one year and the start of another. It’s been organised by Emily, of course, and she’s roped in Ally and me to help with the decorations.
To be honest, I’m not really in the mood to toast the bells with a dram of whisky or to belt out “Auld Lang Syne”, but even so, I can’t deny that Emily is doing a great job in her role here. She’s breathing life into the hotel. It takes me back to my childhood, when Ally’s maw and da were still alive and they ran the place.
But despite the festive atmosphere, all I can really think about is Grace and how I won’t be spending today with her. I’ve barely heard from her since she left four days ago, except for one message to let me know she’d arrived safely at her maw’s and another yesterday to confirm she’s still doing okay. Otherwise, my phone calls and messages have gone unanswered.
“Does it look straight to you?” Ally asks.
“Aye, it’s fine.”
“Fine isn’t good enough. Emily will have my balls if it isn’t perfect.”
There was a time I’d have joked that Emily already has Ally by the balls—he does everything she tells him to—but I keep my mouth shut. Not long ago, I was a free man who didn’t have to answer to anybody and didn’t understand the appeal of relationships. Now? I’d much rather Grace were here bossing me around too. If anything, I’m envious of Ally.
“It’s perfect,” I assure him.
He pushes in the last drawing pin then comes down the ladder and gazes up at the banner. “Aye, it’s not bad.”
“Right. So . . . in your opinion, I should just give Grace some space and stop trying to contact her?”
Ally throws his head back and groans. “Mate! When you started seeing her, I thought it was a good thing, a sign you were finally growing up. I didn’t realise how bloody boring and needy you were going to become. I’ve got a theory about this, actually. Want to hear it?” He doesn’t give me a chance to say no.
“Because you’ve always avoided relationships, you’ve been left emotionally stunted, and now you’re playing catch-up. I mean, Jesus, you’ve never even had a proper break-up before, have you?”
“Shit, is that what you think this is? A break-up?”
He wipes a hand across his face. “No! She’s gone down for her maw, you know that. I was just meaning . . .” He waves his hands vaguely. “Everyone thinks you’re this stud who’s been with countless women, but right now, you’re more like a nervy teenage boy who has no idea how to cope with all these new emotions he’s experiencing. You’re definitely not something for men to aspire to. You’re . . . tragic.”
“Thanks.” I thump Ally’s arm. “Well, at least I know my best mate has my back.”
He grins.
Scratching my head, I add, “It doesn’t help that I’ve got time on my hands. We don’t have any bookings, and there’s only so much Christmas TV I can watch. I need a distraction to stop me obsessing over why she won’t call me and tell me what’s going on down there.”
“Mate, that’s literally why Emily and I asked you over here. You’re meant to be helping me get this place ready for tonight—that’s your distraction.”
“Crap, good point. All right, what next?”
“Balloons—and the great thing about them is you can’t talk while we’re blowing them up.”
I smirk. “Am I really that bad?”
“Aye.” He sets off to fetch the balloons but stops after a few steps. Sighing, he turns back around. “I get you’re feeling rough at the moment, but that’s just a sign you like her. Emily and I had our share of ups and downs at the start, but look at us now.”
His gaze becomes dreamy. “It must be the pregnancy hormones, but Emily’s wanting to do it all the time. My life consists of eating Christmas food, watching TV specials, then having fun with her in the bedroom. It’s a bloody good existence. Next Christmas won’t be like this, with the babies here, so I’m enjoying it while I can.”
I shake my head. “Cheers. I really appreciate hearing how well everything is going for you and how perfect your sex life is.”
“Thanks, mate.” Ally nods seriously. “There have been times in the past I’ve been jealous of you, so it’s nice knowing that, for once, I’m winning at this stuff.”
