Page 11 of The Wedding Engagement

She gave him a nod in return.

“Right,” he said to the group as he took a seat. “Where are we at?”

“Deciding on a date for the pre-wedding weekend away,” Maya said. “We should probably find a couple of options, in case one of them doesn’t work out.”

Liv lifted out her phone to open the calendar, the others following suit. She glanced at Arran, who was frowning at his phone screen, his brow furrowed in an adorable manner. “When has Jess got Jayce?” she asked. “Let’s use those weekends as a starter.”

He nodded, giving a couple of dates to Elise, who noted them down. She lifted her gaze. “Not many going spare.”

Arran winced. “Yeah. Jess has a lot of stuff on.” He looked at Liv, and she registered just then how much he needed her support. She was going to make him accept it by hook or by crook.

“Either of those weekends is good for us,” Sam said, slinging his arm around Maya’s shoulders.

Elise nodded. “Fine by me too. Mum and Dad will manage one weekend with Jack, I’m sure. It doesn’t matter which one it is.”

Nico scrolled through his phone. “Good for me too. Where are we going?”

“I’ve had an idea about that,” Arran said, leaning his elbows on the table.

“Me too,” Liv said, mirroring him.

He gave her a wink that made her skin tingle. “Ladies first.”

Smiling, she faced the others. “I think we should go to Skye. Remember that school trip—”

“We all went on in sixth year?” Arran finished for her. He grinned. “Exactly the same idea I had.”

Liv met his gaze, something warm passing between them. She found that they were always on the same wavelength. Except where romantic feelings were concerned—but she reminded herself that it was for the best that he didn’t reciprocate her feelings. Even though it hurt.

“Yes,” Maya said, clapping her hands together.

Sam nodded. “I loved that trip. And we were talking about wanting to visit again.”

“Great,” Elise said, jotting down a couple of things. “Hotel? Cottage?”

Nico interjected. “Leave that to me. I’ve got a contact who owns a huge property on Skye, a holiday home. I’m sure it’ll be free because she’s working away at the moment.”

“Brilliant,” Maya said. “Thank you.”

“She?” Elise said, shooting Nico a wry smile. “An ex-girlfriend?”

Nico met her gaze head-on. “Yes. I’m friends with all my exes.” He hesitated for a beat. “Mostly.”

“Let us know if you can get the property,” Elise said, “and I’ll search for some alternatives just in case you can’t. When do you think you can get hold of her?”

Nico lifted his phone, tapping out a message. “Right now.”

“We’ll need to decide what activities we want to do,” Liv said, pushing her glasses up her nose. She shot Maya a death stare. “Probably a massive hike, knowing you and your springtime program at the ski resort.” Maya stuck her tongue out at her.

“Don’t worry,” Arran said, bumping her shoulder. “I’ll give you a piggyback if your feet get blistered.”

“Thanks.” She smiled, trying to cover the fact that imagining being on Arran’s back, even fully clothed, gave her goose bumps.

Elise leaned back. “I’m going to see if I can book a nice restaurant for the Saturday night.” She glanced at Nico. “Where’s your friend’s cottage?”

“Portree,” he replied, tossing a cookie in the air and catching it in his mouth.

Elise appeared to roll her eyes a little as she went back to her scribbling. “Right. I’ll sort food, Nico will do accommodation. Liv, can you and Arran come up with some activities?”

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