Highlander Ever After

Send in the Clown

Jer

I blew on the coffee and eyed the cute barista as he flirted with a flight attendant. I suddenly felt very old and out of touch with the world. I stared into the coffee and realized I was as bitter as my coffee.

I wish I had my phone with me, it would be so much easier if I could text Anna to find out where she was. I felt bad for the way I left things with Daniel.

I don’t know why I am like this; I ran a hand through my hair.

“Can I get you a refill handsome?” I glanced up at the cute barista and he was standing over me and smiling.

“No thank you, I’m just waiting for my friend to come pick me up. I broke my phone so I am hoping she’ll find me.” He tilted his head and grinned, he had dimples as well.

Oh, he was adorable.

“There is a gift shop a few doors down that sells phones if you’re interested and if you want, I can keep an eye out for your friend.” He was shifting from foot to foot and giving me puppy dog eyes.

“Oh, you are adorable.” I smiled at him and he shot me another dimple-filled grin.

“Yes, and you are married, my dear bestie.” I heard Anna mutter before she clapped her hands down on my shoulders. Scowling at her as the cute guy wandered off looking heartbroken.

“Well, that was unfortunate.” She slid into the seat across from me and stared at me.

“What?” Raising her eyebrows, I threw my hands up and stuffed my laptop into my bag. I knew she was going to want to know what was going on.

An airport coffee shop was not the place to talk about it though.

“Why are you back? You should be living it up with Daniel. I mean sure the older Mackenzie is there, but like I said, offer him to join you or send him packing.” She looked horrible, her hair was a mess and there were dark circles under her eyes.

“Girl, you look like something Angus hacked up.” Anna snorted and grabbed my coffee from me.

“Yeah, I know I was hoping you would help me with that. I need a makeover badly. Alexei liked me like this, I don’t know why, but he did, but I mean I look more like a swamp hag than a human.”

I was so glad she decided she wanted a makeover. I lived for makeovers. It was also a welcome distraction from what was going on in my life.

“You are going to have to tell me what happened on your honeymoon though.” I frowned; I really didn’t want to rehash that drama.

Also, how was I going to tell her that Mackenzie was seeing someone? Who was this Dahlia character? Why was he dating someone so soon after the ordeal with Claire?

“What are you hiding from me?” Sullivan came in and I stared at the younger Mackenzie, he was certainly distracting and eye-catching.

“Well, hello there baby Mackenzie.” I wiggled my fingers at Sully and he put a kiss on my cheek. Oh, I liked this one better.

“Hey there yourself my mocha Goddess.” Anna was watching us as I slapped Sully on the rear and he winked at me.

“I like this Mackenzie better; he isn’t such a prude!”

“I just got a call from Baba; she said a cousin of Alexei’s will be coming in and we have to bring him back to the house.” I smirked and wondered if that was why Anna wanted a makeover.

“That isn’t why I want the paint job. Sully, did you leave Angus all alone?” Anna’s voice was getting screechy and the barista was staring at us.

“The car is running with the air conditioning on. You two go stay with Angus while I wait for the cousin.” We were being dismissed and Anna looked like she wanted to slap Sullivan.

She stalked out of the airport with my suitcase rolling behind her. I let out a whistle and shook my head.

“She is in a foul mood today.” He chuckled and ran a hand through his hair.

“Yeah, she blew up the coffee maker. I forgot to tell her that I needed to fix the outlet. So I guess we will be buying a new phone for you and a new coffee maker.” He laughed and stretched.

“Is she doing alright? She kind of looks like a swamp hag.” Sully choked and started chuckling.

“She has good days and bad days, but I think Baba is sending in the clown for a distraction.” I raised an eyebrow at Sully.

“Is that jealousy?”

“No, it is an annoyance just when I think there are enough men around the place. Baba added another man to the mix. Besides, my i***t brother doesn’t count. Do you know he is dating the woman who runs the grief counseling sessions?” My eyes nearly popped out of my head.

“I heard about Dahlia, I just didn’t know it was his counselor.” I was learning more than I wanted to.

“I didn’t tell Anna, she has enough to deal with. Besides, unless Gregor decides to show back up in her life, I’m just going to let her do whatever. I will flirt with her and maybe entice her without my shirt like I did this morning. But when she is ready to make a move we’ll know.” I was lost in the daydream of Sully shirtless.

“Well, she might be getting ready to start looking if not just becoming a human again.”’ We sat in silence and Sully squeezed my hand as tears prickled my eyes.

“Are you doing OK buddy? I know you and Alexei were college buddies.” I loved this Mackenzie. He was so caring.

“I’m good, I am going to go wait with Anna and Angus. I will let the new vodka sit up front with you.” Sully rolled his eyes and waved me off.

I stopped and patted his shoulder. “It will get better and you will see the girl I knew before all this fuckery went down.”

He laughed and scratched the back of his neck. “I think I didn’t see her at her best when I first came here, she wanted to punch me.”

“That was because of your brother,” Sully snorted.

“I am not a damn thing like my brother.” His phone pinged and he gave an annoyed grunt.

“See you in a few buddy.” He waved and I watched him go.

No, he was not a damn thing like Gregor.