Page 26 of Scotch on the Rocks

“No need, Ada is happy to pick up extra hours.”

“Has Old Murray returned your money yet?”

“Not likely,” Heather replied before I could. “You could have a pitchfork to his throat and the tight bastard wouldn’t budge.”

I snorted so hard oat milk almost poured from my nose, then said, “Which is exactly what I intend to do … assoon as I can escape for more than five minutes.” Heather winced, gathering her short strands into a stubby ponytail. “You look tired,” I noted. Her skin seeming even paler under her harsh kitchen lights.

“I’m fine.” She yawned, her eyes meeting mine and bouncing away. I hated that bounce. The reminder that while we laughed and teased one another like friends who’d given each other Spice-Girls-inspired haircuts at seven years old, the severing of mine and Alistair’s engagement had cost me far more just my romantic relationship. “Just a long day and the girls won’t stop arguing. I’m considering giving them separate bedrooms so they have a bit of space from one another.”

“Could be a phase,” April said.

“Could be.” She rubbed at her temples. “I know it’s normal for kids to fight. I only wish I had someone to back me up, you know? When they’re screaming at one another and I have to remind myself that I’m the adult here, when really, I just want to lock myself in the bathroom and cry. A one-hour phone call every other week from their dad doesn’t quite cut it as joint parenting.”

“Prick,” I spat, hating that her ex-husband’s departure had been the catalyst for our reconciliation. I’d never expected Heather to choose me over Alistair. But I’d hoped there would be achoice.

Life schooled you for romantic heartbreak.Eat the chocolate, watchLegally Blonde, cry in the shower to Taylor Swift. Rinse and repeat. But no one ever warned you that heartbreak over friendship cut twice as deep.

“Prick,”Heather and April agreed, and I forced a smile as the conversation drifted. I sank back into the mountain of throw cushions, trading out my empty cereal bowl for a glass of red wine, doing all I could not to fall asleep as my friends discussed Heather’s new role as manager at thedistillery, but my mind was like a sieve, unable to grasp onto a single thought as the long day caught up with me.

The conversation yanked me back when a door opened and closed on April’s end. With a grin she angled her face up a split second before Mal’s head descended into view. The image blurring out of focus as his lips caught hers, hands bracketing her cheeks to kiss her deeply. Passionately. As though a sea had separated them, not a handful of stone walls. And damn, I couldn’t look away from the fierce longing they shared. Knowing she’d take a piece of his heart with her when she went away.

“Gross.” Heather gagged. They snapped apart, Mal’s cheeks turning a burned pink while April laughed.

“Sorry guys.” His flush deepened when he registered the two of us. “I didn’t notice the phone.” Because he didn’t notice much besides April these days.

“And I think that’s my signal to go,” Heather said.

“Not on my account.” Mal dipped over April’s shoulder to speak to his sister. “I’m about to shower anyway.”

Heather shook her head, stifling another yawn in her palm. “I need to get to bed, the girls have gymnastics club before school tomorrow.”

“Let me know if you need help with pick-up or drop-off,” he replied before dipping out of view.

I waited in silence as Heather said her goodbyes. Returning her drooping smile with one I hoped was convincingly reassuring. Then her screen went black and I cried, “I almost slept with Callum.” Like I’d just undergone hours in an interrogation chair. I don’t know where the admission came from. Stress?Yes, definitely stress.And the fact he’d been getting in my face for days.

April blinked, lips moving, only her reply was drowned out by a distinctly male choke.

I froze, leaning closer to the screen as though I might peer into the room. “Is that Mal?”

Two seconds passed. Then the reply came from off-camera. “Yep.”

“I thought you were going for a shower,” I said. April’s eyes darted between us.

“I forgot a towel?” It was more of a question than a statement, as though I were his teacher and he was explaining how his dog ate his homework.

Yeah, I couldn’t do this. “Will you just come into the shot please?”

Another lengthy pause. “I don’t want to.”

“Well, pony up, because you’re unfortunately a part of this shitshow now.”

“I don’t think—”

“Mal!”

He stumbled into view like I’d yanked on an invisible rope tied around his waist. Hastily drawing a dark T-shirt over his wide chest, he dropped onto the sofa beside April. Our gazes collided and slid away but I refused to be embarrassed. Even if my cheeks were burning.

“Can we return to the matter at hand please?” April tucked her legs beneath her, practically vibrating with excitement. “You almost slept with Callum today?”

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