Chapter Twenty-One
Time, it seemed, had almost stalled. Arriving back at the hotel, Abby learned that it was, in fact, only later the same afternoon that she’d traveled back in time. No missing person’s file had been opened for her. None of her friends were missing her.
If that wasn’t enough to make her depressed, the one person who had cared about her, loved her for the last month or so, was still in seventeenth century Scotland. She flicked on the television, listened to the news with little interest. Same shit, different day.
How would she live without him?
A knock at the door sounded and she opened it quickly, the hope that Aedan stood on the opposite side dashed as a silver trolley, laden with her room service order, was wheeled in. She tipped the waiter, the smell of hot chips making her mouth water, even as her heart dropped to the floor.
She ate alone but she missed the clan meals, the laughter and chatter among Aedan’s men as they sat at the table, socializing and gossiping, telling tales during their nightly dinner.
The thought was followed by another, even more disheartening. Would she ever see him again? Would Gwen be able to pull her through time once more? That was, if her dearest friend had lived to do so? In the rush to say good-bye, her panic of leaving without Gwen, she’d not told her to bring her back when she could. Stupid mistake, and one she’d live to regret forever, should she live her entire life in the twenty-first century.
She finished her meal quickly, deposited the tray in the corridor, and headed for the shower. It felt like forever since she’d washed her hair properly, and she took longer than usual under the spray.
Aedan would love showers. He’d certainly look mighty fine with water running over his delicious figure, soap bubbles running down his spine and between his perfect ass cheeks.
Tears flowed as easily as the water, and Abby gave in to her emotions and sobbed. She missed him, would do anything to be with him again, and yet, the choice wasn’t in her hands, and possibly wouldn’t be in his or Gwen’s, either.
...
Later that night, Abby started when her phone rang, the caller ID stating it was her roommate in the States. She flicked her phone screen and hit the speaker button. “Hi Sophie. How are you?” Benign conversation seemed the safest course.
“Hi Abby. I’m calling to see how your vacation is going. Nothing new here, other than studying.”
“Sounds like fun.” She sighed. “What’s the weather like?” Could she have any more boring conversation? It was any wonder no one liked to hang out with her.
Sophie laughed, sounding like she was eating something on the other end of the phone. “I just wanted to let you know that I’m moving out. I’m moving in with John. He asked me to, and I thought it was about time we took the relationship one step further.”
Abby nodded, knowing only too well how it felt to find someone you wanted to take the next step with. “That’s great.” Even if it would hurt her budget to come up with double the rent until she could find someone to take the room. “Can you advertise the room for me? I won’t be home for some weeks yet. I’m going to stay here a little longer.”
“Of course. Actually, I may have someone already. She’s really nice.” Abby half-listened as Sophie rattled on about nothing important. She said, yes, no, and oh wow, where appropriate while she Googled information about clan MacLeod that only turned up information that she already knew. The library, however, had archives and there would be a more detailed account of any skirmishes and history of the area. Abby looked up the local library’s address and opening time.
“Anyway, I wanted to touch base with you. I’ll see you when you get back. We’ll go for coffee.”
“Sounds great. I look forward to it.” Abby hung up with a sense of relief. Only months ago she would’ve jumped at going out with Sophie and her friends, but now, the concept of kissing other people’s asses just to have friends irked. If anything, Abby had learned from the past there was a strength in her she hadn’t known existed. A confidence that it was okay not to be the best at everything, that winning wasn’t everything. That she was okay as she was, even if it was alone.
“Gwen, if you can hear me, as soon as you can, I want to return to Aedan. There’s nothing here for me any longer. Please bring me home.” If she expected Gwen to magically appear, she didn’t. Just the rambling of the television broke the silence that divided her from the man she loved.
She was restless and rolled over in bed, unable to find a comfortable position to sleep, she was so impatient to return. The hardened body, smooth and strong, that she was used to snuggling up against, was no longer beside her, his even breathing lulling her worries away.
As much as she loved this time, the standard of living most of all, she missed Aedan more, and it hadn’t yet been twenty-four hours. How would she survive if being back here turned permanent? She could never love another. The thought of learning to love again left her stomach in sickening dread.
She stared up at the white ceiling, the flashes from passing cars the only light penetrating the room. It had been a comfortable space before she’d traveled back in time, but now she felt out of place. She’d become so used to the water lapping against the shore, the odd birdcall late at night, or the sound of the servants dousing the sconces, that now, this time no longer felt normal.
Abby may have been born in the twenty-first century, but she wanted to die in another, as an old woman, warm in her bed, surrounded by the family she’d create with Aedan.
She hugged her pillow, wondering what Aedan was doing, only to realize that his time had passed. He wouldn’t be doing anything. Was that how it worked? The difficulty of the situation made her head hurt and she closed her eyes, wishing that come morning, something, anything would give her hope that she’d see him again.
It was a fanciful dream, but it didn’t stop her from yearning.