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“Uh, yeah”—Nick pawed the back of his neck, his gaze skating over the nurses’ station down the hall—“but that wouldn’t look good.”
“Neither does bailing on your sick girlfriend.”
Head snapping back, Nick’s hand stilled. “Bailing?!” He slowly lowered his arm.
“Well, what would you call it? You come and go from Orkney more often than the flippin’ ferry. How’s that for being reliable, being present? It doesn’t take a medical genius to see how being with you hasn’t been good for my sister.”
“Based on what?”
Face reddening, Sam pointed down the hall. “Well, she’s here, isn’t she?!”
Nick’s pulse stuttered. He blinked slowly, fiercely. “Mate, I didn’t cause this.”
“But the stress of dating you sure as hell did.”
What the actual fuck?! Dropping eye contact, he looked off into space. “Now you’re making shit up.”
“Oh, so I’m lying when I say Evie falls ill when she doesn’t hear from you?”
The muscles in Nick’s shoulders stiffened as he glanced back. “What do you mean?”
Sam nodded. “Evie pines for you, Nick. For your calls, your texts. She’ll even ditch Sunita and Fiona and stay home on the off chance you might fly in unexpectedly. When you don’t, she gets stressed, and within hours, her Crohn’s flares.”
Shit. Nick’s throat thickened.
“Why she’d wait like that for you, I have no clue,” said Sam.
I do. The first Marwick’s visit, the bonfire, Rebecca’s party—all unannounced drop-ins, not to mention what he tearfully blurted on the heels of his Plunder the Crown rejection. Bollocks, what have I done? Raking his hair off his forehead, Nick swallowed, but the wave of nausea in his belly wouldn’t abate. “I…might’ve said something about flying in and surprising her sometime. But things have been so nuts lately…” He trailed off, dreading Sam’s reaction.
“So you gave her false hope, something else to fret over? Like she doesn’t have enough with school and Crohn’s and worrying about other girls—”
“Hey, I’d never cheat on Tigs. I love her, Sam. I’d do anything for her.”
“Anything, eh? Nice. Like moving to Orkney?”
Except…that. Fleeing Sam’s judgmental stare, Nick curled both hands around Evie’s bouquet, escaping into the sunny blooms.
Sam snorted. “Nah, didn’t think so. Now I know why you suggested the London flat—to take her away.”
“That’s not fair.” Nick lifted his chin. “I suggested it because I want to be with her.”
“But not enough to live where she feels safe. I know my sister better than anyone, Nick. London might be fun for a while, but it’s not home. It’s not Orkney. She’ll always come back. Unlike some people, Evie doesn’t see the island as a dead end.”
“I never sai—I have to live near London for my career.”
“And Evie needs to live in Orkney for hers,” retorted Sam.
“But does she?” Nick fired back. “Have you ever asked what she’d like to do? Why is it a given that she’ll take over the shop? Why her? Why not you? And don’t give me that tradition bollocks. That’s just a reason to hold her back.”
“If you think she’s being forced into it, you couldn’t be more wrong, mate.”
“Says the bloke with the most to lose,” said Nick. “If Evie moves away, the responsibility might fall on your shoulders.”
“Maybe, but the truth is, Evie wants Marwick’s. Always has.” Sam let out a quiet chuckle. “When we were peedie, she loved playing shop. She’d steal my toys, Mum’s handbags, and ring up pretend sales on our granny’s typewriter. When stuff went missing, we’d always find it in her room. Drove us bonkers.”
I can actually picture her doing that. Nick couldn’t help but smile…but only a little.
“I know your dad bullied you to take on Sports Now and maybe that’s why you’re suspicious, but Evie isn’t you, Nick. You’ve seen her, how engaged she is with customers, how she takes pride in the merchandise and the shop’s legacy. Marwick’s isn’t settling. Not for Evie.”
