Seamus didn't stand a chance.

“Poor guy,” Carter muttered, cringing. “That was rough to watch. I see Linna’s still the same.”

“It’s been two months. You didn't really think she’d change, did you?” I laughed but agreed. It had been brutal to watch Seamus tell Linna he was leaving, more brutal when she didn’t seem to really care.

“I thought maybe college would age us all a bit, but here we are. Aaron’s plotting a four way and if I wasn't so tired I’d be in on it.”

“Okay, gross. But you have to admit it’s weird that we're here. In college and Europe and everything is different.” I was still stunned they’d come to visit.

“It’s not really though, is it? We hung out all the time in Spokane. Has anything really changed?” He sipped his beer.

“I guess just the location and some of the company.”

“Location and maybe you, chica. But you were different when you came home from Nova Scotia.”

“Was I that different?” I couldn't remember it all anymore. It blended into my backstory. My history.

“Yeah. I didn't believe people could change until that moment. You came home and I could see it in your eyes.” He lifted one side of his lips into a cocky smile, but his stare suggested something else, perhaps a feeling he hadn’t wanted to own, not for real. “I liked the changes. As much as I hate admitting it, since he got the golden prize and all, Aiden was good for you. I don't know if he deserves you, not the way you are now.”

“Thanks?” I said questioning why we had to always talk about my virginity. At least he hadn’t mentioned my weight.

“Anyway, enough serious talk. I’m way too tired for it. How do you think that’s gonna go?” Carter asked, leaning in and pointing at the other end of the long table where Linna, Jess, and Bea had Aaron surrounded.

“Honestly,” I started to laugh as I spoke over the music, “I don't have a clue.”

“I’m almost scared for him, but I have jet lag, so he’s on his own.” Carter lifted his beer and sipped.

“Speaking of jet lag, how’s school going?”

“Good. Princeton’s intense. Though I bet I don't have to tell you. St Andrews is a good school. The town seems pretty sweet.” He lifted his eyebrows and glanced around the St Andrews Brewing Company, the best spot to have drinks and food with a crowd. “And this place is awesome.”

“It’s amazing,” I agreed. “The town, the pubs, the people. I never want to leave Scotland.”

“But don't you miss home?” He finally offered up that grin. I’d been waiting for it. “And me?”

“No.” I scoffed. “I’ve been busy being a failure at life. I don't have time to miss you or home,” I teased, sort of.

“To failing and making it look good.” He lifted his beer.

“Thanks,” I said with a snide tone.

“You going home at Thanksgiving?”

“Yeah, I have to. Dad made me promise. I don’t know why though; Sheila’s going to be a dick and the flight is murder. The seven-hour time difference is horrid.”

“Horrid is it?” He laughed. “You talk differently here. Have you noticed it? And Linna is almost completely British.”

“I suppose it was inevitable, though three months seems fast.” I joked. “Surrounded all the time by people who speak differently, eventually I would end up different.”

“Maybe that was his evil plan,” Carter joked but I wondered, just a little. “Speaking of him again, if you two get married, will that make you queen?”

“I don't know, we’re not there.” I paused, trying to recall the details of the whole thing. “He’s going to be king. And if one day, we were there, I guess I’d be queen, sort of like a queen consort because I’m not royal and have no lineage.”

“And then you’ll live in Andorra for the rest of your life? That country is tiny, bro. Like not even the size of Seattle. What if you don't like snow all winter or you get tired of the tiny provincial life? What if you don't like not seeing the ocean?” He’d clearly put thought into this. Thoughts I’d already had.

“I know.” All of that was a hard pill to swallow. I was aware of every bad thing about Andorra. “Small, landlocked, wintery as hell, and tiny. And English isn’t really a thing. They all speak Catalan, French, and Spanish. But I love him.”

“Yeah, but it's the rest of your life. Like any kids you have would have to live there too, forever.” He tossed another log on the fire. “You have to give up your American citizenship.” He’d clearly done some looking into this.

“Yeah.” I tried not to sound completely down about it. “I know.”

“He’s asking an awful lot, Fin.” Carter said it warningly, like he was worried about me. I wondered how many other people were, but just weren’t telling me. Keeping it to himself wasn't Carter’s way. And nothing was ever off limits with us.

“He’s not technically asking anything yet, Carter.”

“You need to remember he’s just a guy, Fin. Just a regular dude, under that title. I’m not trying to be a dick or a downer. I just think you need to go long and hard on that one.” His words dug into the insecure places inside me. “We’ve known each other since we were three. I’d hate to see this become—anyway, I want the best for you and I don't know if this is it.”

“Thanks.” My phone rang, flashing the kissy face, as if Aiden could hear the conversation from nearly two thousand miles away. “I should take this.” I lifted it and got up. “Hello?” I shouted over the noise of the crowd and music playing in the background.

“Fin?” Aiden sounded confused.

“Yeah, sorry, just give me a sec to get outside.” I hurried past tables to the door and slipped out into the drizzle that had started. “Hey.”

“Where are you?”

“I’m out for drinks and dinner with Linna and Jess and Bea and”—I paused, not sure how this would go—“Carter and Aaron. You remember that Carter’s at Princeton? So he flew over to see us. And Aaron is actually just in Ireland, so he agreed to meet him.”

“Oh.” It was his turn to pause. “You didn't mention it.”

“No, I didn't know. They spoke with Linna to arrange it, and she’s been with Seamus in her free time all week. So it was a surprise. A nice one. Little reminder of home.”

“Are you missing home?” His tone was dipping into the one that neither of us liked. It meant heated discussions and possibly fighting, and we’d just fought so I wasn't touching it.

“No, I mean I miss the US. I miss home in the sense this place isn’t my home. But I love Scotland, you know that. How’s it going there?” I changed the subject and tried not to shiver. November in Scotland was cold. Bitterly cold.

“Good as can be expected. Dad is determined to continue the plans he had in the works before he became really ill. Ice hotels and building our tourism even more. The citizenship situation has been a nightmare since we changed all the laws. The usual. I miss you.”

“I miss you too.” I smiled, hugging myself tightly.

“It snowed here, it’s a winter wonderland again. I’m heading out for dinner and drinks myself now, and then skiing tomorrow. I also have some unexpected friends who are visiting for the weekend. I guess we’ll both be a bit busy.”

“Yeah.” I bit my lip, fighting the urge to say the obvious about not going heli-skiing.

“You okay?”

“Just tired. It’s been a busy day and hanging with everyone wasn’t how I intended to spend it. I was sort of hoping to study and get some sleep. I’m meeting the journalist tomorrow for the interview. Bea said she’s doing my makeup.”

“Right. Of course she did.” He laughed. “I had the exact address sent to the assistant. So you’re all set. You’ve memorized everything?”

“Of course.” I turned and stared through the window, seeing my friends laughing and drinking and being fun. “I should get back. They’re only here for a couple of days. Going home Sunday.”

“Okay. I love you and I’ll try to squeeze in a chat tomorrow before we head out. Actually, I will chat with you before the interview. Don't be nervous. Just be—you.” He laughed.

“You mean the me your PR people have created?” We both laughed but the sight of my friends being normal, the people who loved me for being me, the real me, burned a little.

“For the record, I don't like the Fin the PR people have created. I love the Fin you are, and I will never let you lose sight of her. Because I will never let her out of my sights,” he said exactly the right thing.

“Okay. I’ll hold you to it. Have fun.”

“You too. And try to get sleep.” He skimmed the border of telling me to be good.

“I will.” And as I hung up, I wondered if home was where the heart was and if he was big enough in my heart to be home. If I could ignore the small country and limited countryside and give up who I was to be with him.

Carter was right—it was a huge decision and listening to him speak about it, I realized I wasn't ready to make it.

Pushing it all down, I opened the door and walked back. The warmth rushed me and made me shiver.

“Was that my darling cousin?” Bea shouted at me, the drinks obviously hitting her.

“It was.” I smiled and sat back next to Carter.

“Did he tell you that his coronation has been set?” She asked me the one question I’d wanted to avoid.

“No.”

“Oh, then mum’s the word. I said nothing.” She slipped a finger in front of her lips and widened her eyes.

“I’ll act surprised when he tells me.” I didn't ask the date. I didn't want to know.

“Coronation?” Carter asked.

“Becoming king, officially. My uncle’s ill so Aiden has to be sworn in as the leader in the event his father dies,” Bea offered, sounding different than I’d heard her. “Breaks my heart.” Her eyes shone with emotion. “That poor bastard. He never wanted to be king. It’s a cruel fate because Geoff always wanted it. Aiden had so many dreams and now they’re all gone.” She blinked and a rogue tear slipped from her dark eyes. She wiped it and smiled. “Sorry. I didn't mean to bum everyone out.” She stood up. “I’ll go to the loo and sort myself.” She hurried from the table.

The eyes followed her for a moment before turning to me.

“We should do some shots,” I said to Linna, praying she would see the need in my stare.

“Hell yeah!” She jumped up and took over so I could slip from the table and hurry to Bea.

She was reapplying mascara and taking deep breaths when I got to the ladies' room. “You okay?”

“Yeah,” she lied. “Let’s not think on it all until we have to.”

“Okay.” I smiled back, forcing it the way she was.

“Changing the subject to something much more fun, what’s the details on Carter?”

“Player, heartbreaker, smarter than he pretends to be, insightful, funny as hell, totally skeezy when it comes to ladies, and yet I suspect when he falls in love it’s going to be the tragic sort. He’s one of those all-or-nothing guys.”

“Have you two ever—”

“No.”

“Excellent.” She grinned and said it like the evil stepmother in Cinderella.

I worried a bit for Carter but decided maybe she was the sort of insanity he needed. He was the kind of guy who got bored easily.

And Bea was anything but boring.