Reunited (Book 2 of Lost Highlander series) by Cassidy Cayman Page B

craziness,” Piper said. “And I’m also not going to nag you about why you haven’t told Sam yet.”
    Evie sighed, then groaned. “I don’t know why he hasn’t guessed yet,” she said irritably. “I throw up roughly every half hour. Morning sickness, my ass. Mine goes all day.”
    “You’re a piece of work, Evie.”
    Evie shrugged. “There’s plenty of time. What happened yesterday?”
    Piper explained how the spell hadn’t worked, and her newfound reasons for not wanting to try again.
    Evelyn clutched her stomach in dismay at the mention of people getting inadvertently sent to another time.
    At the pub they sat in a secluded booth and ordered sandwiches with the amount of gravitas as if it would be their last meal. Piper pushed away the thought that anything she did could be the last time for her. Unless Evie’s paradox rants were absolutely true, it seemed it was only a matter of time before her entire existence unraveled.
    She tried to relax and concentrate on soaking up the time she had with her friends. Her mood actually started to lighten as they chatted about inconsequential things, and even the service was better than usual.
    The waitress brought out complimentary salads along with six different dressings. She kept freshening their lagers and teas without being asked, and little bowls of pickles and crisps kept appearing as she hovered around their table. When she leaned over Piper to give Lachlan some fresh napkins, Sam huffed irritably and dropped his fork with a clatter.
    “Tilly! Beggar off, y’daft cow,” he said. “He’s a man like any other in here.”
    Evie gasped and clapped her hand over her mouth as the red-faced waitress flew from their sight.
    “Sam, that was so rude,” she admonished.
    “Well, she’s drooling over him like he’s a fresh shank of lamb she’d like to braise.” Sam scowled and shook his head. “Do you get that in your own time, mate?” he asked.
    Piper almost snorted her tea out of her nose and looked to see Lachlan’s response.
    He looked discomfited and shrugged. “Aye, a bit I suppose. But I’ve none so much money or land, so most quickly lose interest.” He turned to Piper and gave her a beatific smile. “Good thing yer so filthy rich, my love.”
    It was Evie’s turn to snort at Lachlan’s attempt at a joke. Her cheeks were still pink from embarrassment at Sam’s outburst to the waitress, but he assured them he’d known her since primary school and she’d said far worse things to him over the years.
    Their meal was brought to the table by the bartender, who winked at Piper and rolled his eyes at Sam.
    The arrival of the food seemed to bring their situation back with it and they all wilted over their plates, not ready to give up their new good moods.
    As they huddled together over the sandwiches, they went around and around the problem. Evie was adamantly opposed to them trying again, especially with the specter of people getting sucked back in the spell.
    Sam kept waffling, at first agreeing with Evie, then coming up with reasons they should try again, namely Piper’s possible disappearance from the face of the earth. Lachlan was oddly quiet, agreeing abstractly with everyone. Piper sat there staring at her ham and cheese croissant, picking at the watercress and wishing she knew what to do.
    Evelyn made an impassioned speech about the dangers, tugging at Sam’s shirt to show the scar from his stab wound, and pulling down the sleeve of her own top to show the scar she had from Daria slicing her shoulder.
    When she ran to the restroom to lose her lunch, they stared at each other morosely, knowing it was too dangerous to try again.
    When the bill arrived, Sam grabbed it before Piper could, even though she gave him a pained look.
    “Come on, World’s Tiniest Philanthropist,” Evie said as she took out her wallet and she and Sam began adorably putting their money together on the table. “Let us pay for lunch.”
    Piper closed her eyes and let out