Chapter 17 #2
“I’ll come down to the hotel as soon as I’m done. Last batch of boarders arrive in the afternoon, so I will have a few things to iron out. Need to get rid of the parents too, they tend to linger. The good ones, that is. The awful ones just send the kids up on their own.”
“I can see you’ll be busy.”
“I had one arrive today; he lost his passport on the train up, left one of his suitcases at the airport, and we had to pay for his taxi because we still don’t know where his debit card is.”
That made me laugh.
“I promise you, I’ll pay for my own transport. I’ve booked a rental car. As long as I don’t get lost, I’ll be there at around nine.”
“Say hello to Angus, he’s the guy who runs the pub.”
“I will do.”
“Good night, Noah,” he said.
Then he hung up.
The nerves didn’t get better, boarding that flight and sitting there tapping my feet the whole way up to Glasgow.
Chewing nervously on the tiny snack provided, and hoping I wasn’t too annoying for the guy next to me, not being able to stay still.
I got there. I did, and the rental car? A small banger that I had to wedge myself into.
My own fault for choosing the cheapest budget option, when I probably should have got myself a four-door saloon with ample space for my stupid legs.
I drove, the autumn landscape right there, a light breeze of fallen leaves across my windscreen as I navigated the outskirts of Glasgow.
Hit the open landscape and lost the light near Loch Lomond.
I’d seriously underestimated the drive, the small roads and the darkness, and once again reminded myself to book a bigger car next time.
Two hours later? I drove up the hill past the entrance to Kilmartin School. Grand and lit up in the darkness. My chest tightened up because I was almost there. Near.
Near him.
The hotel was easily found, and I parked up, grabbing my overnight bag. And yes, this was a small place, and the open fire and empty pub greeted me. Well, there was a lonely guy in the corner drinking a pint, and a man behind the bar.
“Aye,” he said.
“Fairweather,” I said, like the plonker I was. “Booked a room.”
“Aye,” he repeated, this barkeep. “Angus McAllen. Take a seat. What you drinking?”
What was I drinking? Fox Riley, that was all I was planning to consume this evening.
“Sparkling water, please,” I huffed out, taking a seat as this Angus looked at me like I had two heads.
“You’ve had a long drive. This guest ale won awards. Smooth as silk and just the right temperature. Local brewers. It would be a crime to serve you…sparklin’ water.”
“I see,” I said. The fool I was, as the man just shook his head and picked up a pint glass.
“The guest ale.” I nodded. For heaven’s sake.
“Worth your while,” Angus agreed.
I sat there, nursing a quiet pint as Angus the barkeep disappeared over in the corner, talking animatedly to someone out of my sight.
I assumed he’d give me a room key. Allow me to freshen up maybe, but there was no sign of anything such. I suddenly missed the London budget hotels. Tap card against machine? Receive a key. Anonymously and simply provided within seconds. Here?
“Another?”
I didn’t dare to argue. The beer was, as promised, excellent.
But I needed a clear head. Also? This Angus was very obviously not a man to be argued with, so I gladly tapped my card on his reader and received the second pint.
Not surprisingly as I was intimidated as anything, and didn’t dare to say no.
I sat there. And time seemed to stand still. I was back to being me, not daring to look at the time on my watch, not daring to check my phone. I didn’t want to pester him. Rush him. Annoy him when I’d pushed myself on him, at a very busy time.
He’d come. I hoped he would.
And I sat there. Concentrating on my breaths. Not able to drink anymore because I would lose my senses. Do something drastic.
I’d cry. Because. Fuck.
And just as I thought that? There was an arm around my waist. Another. Someone’s body against my back and a head against my shoulder. Face in my neck. Not a word spoken.
Just him. Me.
This whole insanity rushing over me, then…simply fading away. My hands holding on to his. The two of us rocking gently as we were. Me on that chair. Him hanging over me like a comforting, warm winter coat.
“Riley.” Here was Angus again, fiddling with ice cubes and lemon slices. Spraying something fizzy into a glass.
“Angus,” he said. “This is Fairweather.”
“Aye,” Angus replied. “You need to teach him some manners.”
“Why’s that?” Fox laughed. Still not letting go. Public displays of affection were apparently not frowned upon in here.
“Tried to order sparkling water. Should have him barred.”
“He’s a paying customer, Angus McAllen. He can have whatever he wants.”
“Not in here. I don’t bring in the best guest ales in Argyll and Bute to have people drink water. We have a local distillery here, Riley. We support that.”
“We do,” he said, and then he finally moved. Slid around me and took a seat on the barstool next to me. His hands both still in mine. I made sure of it. “Pint okay?”
What kind of question was that?
“It’s excellent.” I nodded vigorously as he smiled. A little blushed. I didn’t dare to look at him but still couldn’t look away. He looked…exactly the same. Hair tied back, but those eyes were glittering in the soft light and he was smiling.
“Gin and tonic. Double lemon.”
“Thank you, Angus.”
“Room one.”
“You’re in room one.” He grinned.
“It’s very different out here.” I had to say it.
“You’re in Kilmartin now. Things are slower here, a different pace of life.
Everything is quiet and calm, well apart from when Mrs McAllen gets upset.
Eileen is a firecracker, and when she goes off on one, you’ll know it.
Gunner’s cattle got out this morning, so there’s been a whole load of racket ’bout getting that fence fixed.
Also, Kilmartin School is once again at full capacity.
Well, the Fitzpatrick twins still haven’t turned up, but the boys drive themselves, and they’re the kind of kids who would be late to their own funerals.
I’m tracking them on Find My Friends. Father’s orders.
They’ve stopped off in Inverary no doubt; there’s a good chippy there. ”
His nerves were showing now, talking too much about nonsense. The soft local accent creeping in the way it did. I loved it. I loved that he was here. Mostly I loved that I was.
“You know,” he said, lifting his glass. Clinking it against my pint. “There’s a bunch of things I want to say right now, but…half of them would be inappropriate to say out loud. I love that you’re here. Kind of excited to show you everything.”
“We have two days. I…I don’t care what we do as long as I can be with you.”
“You’ll be with me.”
“Good.”
“Cheers.”
We drank. His eyes never leaving mine. Put our glasses back down.
“I suppose this is our first date.”
“A bit far to go for a date. I’ve kind of traversed the entire country.”
“Crossed borders and all.”
“Yup. For you.”
“Thank you.”
What did I say to that? I had no idea. Just squeezed his hand.
“How’s your foot?”
We both laughed.
“Fucking hell,” he said quietly. “I can’t believe I did that.”
“I’m glad you did. Best holiday ever.”
“The first two days were great. Last part sucked.”
“I know.”
He was quiet for a bit. Took another sip of his drink.
“Noah, I’m an idiot. Seriously, most of the time I am, and I’m not going to make the same mistake again. This, you see? This is all wrong. Everything is wrong.”
Shit.
He stood up and waved at Angus. Me? I sat there with panic in my throat. At least he still had one hand in mine, and I held on to it. Hard.
Don’t do this. Please don’t.
“Angus, put the drinks on my tab, and the room. We won’t be needing it.”
“Aye,” the man said.
“Let’s go. I’m taking you home.”
“Home?”
“Home,” he repeated. Then he kissed me. Right there by the bar and truly? Honestly?
I needed to look for the nearest defibrillator because Fox Riley would be the end of me.