No matter what she did now, she would feel like a pathetic loser for letting him manipulate her as long as he had. His pals in the pub would laugh and make fun of her, and if she returned to the shop to get to her apartment above it, Lonnie and Gracie’s pity would be more than she could bear. Or she and Patrick could stand out here in the weather arguing and, with any luck, he would catch pneumonia. That was the only option that truly offered any promise.
“I am going home,” she said, hoping she could climb the fire escape in the back without tearing her costume. At least that way, she would avoid Lonnie and Gracie. “Ye do whatever ye wish.”
“But we need to talk.” He fidgeted in place like a lad about to wet his pants. “It’s important.”
“So talk, then.” She hugged her cloak closer, fighting to keep it from flapping in the wind. A scowl upward confirmed the mizzling rain had stopped. A starry blanket of blackness chased away the soft gray of low-hanging clouds. Just like he had said it would, damn him straight to hell. Still cold as the dickens and her fingers numb, she wished she had worn her gloves. “Well? What do ye have to say?”
“Rain’s stopped. Since ye dinna want to go to the pub, let’s just go on to the cliffs.”
She studied him, trying to figure his angle. “Why are ye so dead set on going to the cliffs? Ye hate watching for the lights.”
He jutted his chin and shoved his hands deeper into his pockets. “Trying to do better by ye. That’s all. Were ye not nagging me just the other day that we never do anything ye want to do?”
“I dinna nag.” She sniffed and rubbed the end of her icy nose. “I was calling ye out for not showing up when ye said ye would.”
“Whatever.” He scowled up at the sky, then leveled his glare with hers. “We need to talk about our engagement, and I thought the cliffs would be nice and private.” His nose wrinkled as if he smelled a stink. After a disgruntled look up and down the street, he gave her a curt nod. “Ye canna take a shite in this place without everyone talking about it.”
That part was true enough. The gossips had already whispered in her ear several times about him and Lucy Hamstead. Gracie and Lonnie swore they had heard about them sneaking around too. But it couldn’t be so. Not with him working extra shifts when everyone said they had seen them together. She had even spotted his wreck of a car in the parking lot at the warehouse during the times in question.
But something was off about him tonight. She couldn’t quite put her finger on it. An uneasy realization filled her. A premonition of sorts. One way or another, be it good or bad, tonight would forever change their relationship. She felt it in her bones. She might as well return his ring now.
“Well?” He stomped his feet and blew into his hands. “My car’s parked just up there. Are ye coming or not?”
“If ye try to throw me off the overlook,” she warned, “I will take ye with me. Just so ye know.” She was only partially joking. He had never been physically abusive, but with tonight’s strange mood, she wouldn’t be surprised. Woe to him if he tried. She might tolerate his rudeness, but if he attempted to physically harm her, she would defend herself with ease.
He eyed her as if she had lost her mind, then shook his head. “I canna believe ye would say such a thing.” His voice shifted to the tone he always used when trying to make her feel guilty. “Shall I get the car?”
“Aye. Fetch it.” While she waited for him to return, she pushed the engagement ring around her finger with her thumb. A nervous habit she had adopted since he first gave her the ill-fitting thing. When she had suggested having it resized, he talked her out of it. When her finger started turning green, she understood why. But none of that had mattered. Until lately.
His rusted-out, beat-up excuse for a ride backfired twice as he pulled up beside her, then motioned for her to come around and get in.
“Chivalry is most definitely dead,” she grumbled. She yanked on the dented door with all her might, pried it open, then slid into the seat.
“Gonna take a while for the heat to get going,” he said as they pulled away from the curb. “Least we’re out of the wind, though.”
“I suppose so.” She hunkered down into the heavy wool cloak, thankful she had worn the layered costume.
“What’s with ye tonight?” The car backfired again, then sputtered and jerked as he shifted gears and gave it more gas.
“I am going to need a little more to go on before I answer that.” She had an idea what he meant but wasn’t about to make it easy on him. Her patience had taken too long to run its course with Patrick Inverarry. But she had finally reached its end.
“Ye’re a right wee snippy bitch tonight.” He took the turn that lead to the cliffs just outside of town. “Nearly bad as Gracie.”
She snorted. “I will take that as a compliment.”
He shot her a quick scowl, then returned his focus to the road. “I’ve not done a thing to deserve such treatment.”
A bitter smile came to her. “Aye. Ye are right. Ye’ve not done a bloody thing.”
The auto’s engine groaned as the incline grew steeper. Patrick urged it to where the pavement ended and parked. “I canna leave it running. Have ye seen the price of petrol?”
A heavy sigh escaped her as she stared straight ahead. Such a beautiful overlook. Nothing but the sea and starry sky. And yet here she sat unable to enjoy it because she had caved to her fears and become a coward. Well, no more. Without a doubt, being alone was better than being with Patrick.
She slipped the ring off her finger and turned to give it to him.
“I dinna ken how to say this,” he said before she could speak. “So, I’m just gonna say it. I need the ring back. Me and Lucy are getting married next week. She’s up the kyte.”
She sat there and blinked, shocked into a stupor. Then rage, regret, and an explosive jumble of angry emotions fought for control of her. Slow-burning rage won out. She trembled with its intensity. “What?” She needed to hear it again. Just to be sure.
