Chapter Thirty-Three - I did warn you

Skyla

Brandon and I managed to find somewhere to stay. We booked a cottage with a great view of Loch Ness. We only managed to get it due to a last-minute cancellation. Brandon had gone to the supermarket to pick us up on things we needed since it is self-catering, but there is a pub nearby that serves food.

I am just on my way out to meet him, nearly two hours later than planned, which means we won’t arrive until closer to ten. I didn’t get done by four, as I thought. Thankfully I texted him just in time before he left to come here. Brandon had done everything from the booking to the packing and the shopping. I felt guilty because he has to do it all himself.

I glance around for the car and spot. I rush over and climb in.

“Hey, sorry, I am late,” I say softly.

“It’s fine. We should leave.”

His words seem to be emotionless. I think he might be mad at me.

“Brandon, are you angry with me?”

He doesn’t answer. Instead, he starts the car and gets us on our way. Yup, he is mad at me. I sigh and turn to stare out of the window. There is tension in the air and not the fun sexual kind. The silence is unbearable, and I have had enough already, even if it has only been a few minutes.

“You have no right being mad at me, Brandon. I warned you before we came here I would be busy. Yes, I am sorry we are leaving two hours later, but I couldn’t help it.”

“What did you expect me to, stay at home and see you God knows when? I came because it was the only way I could see.” He snaps.

“No, I am happy you came, of course, I am, but you can’t say I didn’t tell you. It will always be like this when a new book is due out.” I bark back.

I don’t like arguing with him, but something needs to be said.

“Yes, but if I knew I would never see you, then I would have fucking stayed home. I completely understand you are busy, but tonight was supposed to be our time, Skyla and you showed up two hours late. I do have the damn right to be mad.” He hisses.

“You know where the fucking airport is, don’t you! Go home! I am not stopping you, especially if you are going to act like a jackass because I need to work.”

My words come out in a snarl. I am pissed at him, and perhaps I don’t have the right, but what does he expect me to do?

“Is that what you want? You want me to leave?” he asks.

I shake my head and roll my eyes, “You are a grown-ass man, do whatever the hell you want, Brandon.”

I watch his grip on the steering wheel tightened. I wait for his comeback, but I don’t receive one. Brandon reaches over, switches the radio on and turns it up loud. How mature of him, drowning me out with music.

Brandon continues to drive. I half expect him to turn back and head for my place, but he doesn’t. I don’t know if us going away tonight is a good idea if we are annoyed at each other. I will let him make the choice since he is the one driving.

I turn away from him, watching the world go by from the window again. A few stray tears run down my cheeks. I quickly wiped them away because I would rather him not know I was crying. I hate fighting with him; it isn’t something we do often.

I have no idea if we are still heading for Loch Ness, but wherever we are going, it is going to be a long assed drive.


****
Brandon and I haven’t spoken for the last hour, but he seems to be still heading for Loch Ness. I don’t know what to say to him. Suddenly, he pulls into one of the rest stops and finds a parking space. He turns the music and the engine off.

“Why have we stopped?” I ask and finally, look at him.

Brandon undoes his seatbelt and turns side on to face me.

“Skyla, I am sorry, angel. I shouldn’t have snapped at you. I don’t want to fight with you. I hate fighting with you.” He says softly and reaches over to place his hand on my knee.

“Brandon, I understand why you were, but I can’t help it. I know tonight was supposed to be our time, but I got held up. A lot of work needs to go into releasing a book.” I reply calmly.

“I know; I really am sorry, sweetheart. I know how hard you have worked on this book and all the work that needs to be done before it is released. I have just missed you. I had gotten so used to having you around a lot back home. Now, I have barely seen you, and it makes me realise how hard it will be to do the long-distance thing. I want to make it work, but it will be so damn tough.”

I can hear the sadness in his voice and see it in his eyes, also. I place my hand over his.

“I have missed not seeing you as much either, Brandon. It will be hell when we need to start long distance, but I have faith we can make it work.”

I try my best to sound confident. I do have faith, but it doesn’t mean it will work.

“I really hope so, beautiful. Do you forgive me for acting like a jackass? I think that is the word you used.”

Brandon chuckles when he speaks the last part.

I snicker, “Yes, it was. And yes, I do forgive you. I am sorry too, babe.”

He smiles, leans over and kisses me softly. He rests his hand on my cheek. I smile into the kiss and kiss back. We part after a moment.

“Thank you. Now, come on; we should get to Loch Ness. How does dinner and wine in sound? We can go out for food tomorrow.” He suggests.

“Yes, I am fine with that. It will be late anyway, so staying in sounds fine. We can explore tomorrow.”

Brandon nods and steals one last kiss before he gets us back on the road. I am happy we have made up, but I still worry about how we are going to make the long-distance thing work. I don’t want to move. I am happy in Scotland, and I am sure he doesn’t want to either since he has everyone and everything there. We need to work out a plan that is suitable.

I move over and lay my head on Brandon’s shoulder. He lips his free arm around my shoulder and kisses the top of my head before putting his full concentration on the road.

All my focus will be on Brandon while we are. I am putting my phone on airplane mode until we leave Loch Ness, and I want him to do the same. I am okay with it if he doesn’t want to, but I would rather us be present in the moment rather than being distracted by our phones.