Chapter 42
42
SIX DAYS AFTER I LEFT HER
Christ, this man can’t pack for shit. ‘Mac, do you really need all of this stuff?’ I ask as I shove yet another bag into the boot of the car. ‘Is that a camping stove?’
‘Aye. What else would it be?’
‘Why do we need a camping stove?’
‘Think you know everything about these hills after your time here, do you?’
‘No I?—’
‘I’ve broken down more times than I can say, and let me tell you, you dinnae want to be stranded in the Scottish hills without something to keep you warm.’
‘Can’t we just get the train?’
‘The train?’ he asks as though I’ve just told him to flap his arms twenty times and then he’ll take off. ‘I don’t trust them. Always striking, aren’t they? And then where would we be?’ He passes me a rolled-up tent.
Fuck’s sake. ‘Is that everything?’ I’m impatient. I’ve messed up and I need to get back to her before it’s too late. At this rate, I won’t get back until she’s drawing her pension .
‘Aye? Why, what else do you think we’ll need?’
‘I was being sarcastic.’
‘Were you?’
‘Yes.’
‘Well, tell that to your face. Sarcastic . You’ve a lot to learn.’
Clearly. I open the back door, Caesar jumping onto the seat, tongue lolling, settling himself in for a nap.
Mac hands me the keys.
‘You want me to drive?’
‘No. You want to drive. Your hands are twitching like you’ve got worms and need to scratch your arse.’
Jesus Christ. I’m not sure I can take being stuck in a car with Mac for the next six hours. We both look to the sky, as three fighter jets career over.
‘Right then, let’s go and get your girl, shall we?’
Finally.
I open the door to the truck, twist the ignition as Mac straps himself in. ‘Fruit Pastel?’ He shakes the bag at me. I reach inside. ‘But not the green ones. They’re my favourite.’
This is going to be a long drive. I hold up a purple one for inspection, receiving a nod of satisfaction from Mac. ‘Well, are we going to get going or you want to wait here like some damsel in distress?’
I pull down the visor against the low sun, push my foot on the accelerator as a cloud of dust spins out behind us. The regret of leaving Liv sitting heavily on my shoulders. I can only hope she’ll be able to forgive me for being such a complete and utter asshat.