Page 28 (1/2)

"Beck really cares about you"

"I know," she nodded, her eyebrows drawn together "As much as he can care about me I’ve accepted that It tookbecause of our attraction, but Beck is too o there Maybe in ten years when he’s grown up a bit, but not now You know, though, I’d rather have him as a friend than not have hi between me and Jake isn’t the saether with a pretty ugly history There’s too ret and hurt"

"I’m sorry, Charley," she whispered "I’m sorry you can’t see what the rest of us see"

"And what’s that?"

"That no uys are still ether"

"Don’t--"

"We all see it," she cut ether, it’s like the whole world goes away And … Beck knows Jake better than anyone He says he’s never seen him as happy as he’s been these last few ain and breathed hard through it "Claudia, I know you think you’re helping but you’re not Please … stop Okay?"

"Okay, okay I’ll shut up" She sighed and turned around "I just don’t think you should give up on hioodbye to reat, but I ed to hold in the tears Claudia, on the other hand, was ato make up for her parents’ lack of affection that Claudia had bubbled and clung to Moed to pry her off

When Claud had suggested I change et out of Chicago, rather than taking the sauys, I’d juame

He’d called me three more times and left a voicemail the last ties on Facebook without reading theh would prove the ulti to be much more difficult to avoid Jake when he lived a two-uilt hts to first class, so I enjoyed the luxury and tried to ignore the dileh Technically, it wouldn’t be a dileot back fro a train to Fort Willia Jake after hlands

Since everyone else had already arrived in Edinburgh a day earlier, Claud and I had just enough ti, and pack before ere toto catch the train since Edinburgh Waverly Station was a less than a ten h for rumbled as I strolled into the kitchen with atta, s, cashmere scarf, and wooly floppy knit hat, I was ready to hlands Or I would be once I woke the hell up

"Um …"

The "uh oh" expression on Claudia’s face was like a shot of caffeine "What is it?"

She winced "Jake’s co up her hands, Claudia gave me a helpless look "He decided to co I was supposed to have four more avoidance days!"

"I’ to think of a way out of this I spent a good fivein elaboration and entertainrown-ass wo really fast on her phone to answerLowe to run interference"

Okay, noas going to strangle her Through clenched teeth, I asked, "Why are you asking Lowe to run interference?"

"Because you told me what he said at Frankenstein, so he see on and he’s on your side He’ll keep you out of Jake’s way Not that I think you should stay out of Jake’s way, but it’s what you want so I’ over this, I eventually bobbed ht"

"Phew!" Claudia grinned cheekily "Crisis averted Now let’s go conquer the Highlands" She sailed pastin her wake

Chapter Twenty-One

The sight of Jake standing talking to the guys on the sidewalk of the corner of Blair Street, his hands stuffed into his black wool coat, his s out of ainst my stomach and I almost stumbled to a stop

"You okay?" Claudia asked, her eyes pinned to the group

Denver stood with a rainbow-colored Rowena at his side, Matt joked with Jake, and Beck and Loatched us approach

"I’m fine," I lied "Let’s do this"

The wheels of our s the hard sidewalk and the sound drew everyone’s stare

Do not look at Jake, do not look at Jake

With a single-minded deterrinned

"Oh, finally, ht eyes settled on Claudia "Thanks for inviting me I love free trips"

"Who doesn’t?" Beck s her carefully "How’s it going?"

"We’re good" She smiled at everyone "But late, so we better aze burn into my cheeks, I was ever so thankful that Lowe fell quickly into step beside me as alked up a very steep Blair Street It stoppedJake if he was okay since his split with Melissa three weeks ago It shouldn’t bother h to not want hiood Christmas?" Lowe asked softly

"I did Did you?"

"Yeah, it was cool We decided on Chinese takeout this year Very Christht cake or a pie?"