"What?"
"I'm breaking up with you." I enunciate each word with knife-like precision, even while my throat tightens and tears pour down my cheeks. "Goodbye, forever."
While Gavin just sits there gawping at me, I rush out of the café and down the sidewalk, swerving down the side street where I'd parked my car. As I collapse onto the driver's seat and shut the door, I can no longer hold back my anguish. I cover my face with my hands and sob. But I only do that for a moment, then I realize that crying willnae help at all. So, I wipe away my tears and blow my nose.
In the rearview mirror, I can see my own face. My eyes are red, and my face is blotchy. Mhac na galla. This isn't the way I behave. I'm always cheerful and optimistic, but Gavin Douglas has taken all of that away from me. I still love him. I always will. But I dinnae know if we can ever repair the damage he caused simply by offering me a sodding credit card.
No, I will not let Gavin ruin my day or my outlook on life.
After a few moments of rest, I study myself in the mirror again. No more bloodshot eyes. No more blotchy face. I look like myself again.
But I still have a dilemma. Where should I go? Home? That means Aidan and Calli's house. I'd moved back in with them recently. Ugh, no, I can't run there. I might look better now, but I still feel like rubbish. Maybe a wee walk might refresh me. I climb out of my car and return to the corner where the café is. Gavin's car is gone, so at least I won't need to worry about bumping into him.
I am alone.
That solitary thought spurs the tears to gather once again in my eyes. Bloody hell. Look what Gavin has done to me. I march off down the street, away from the café, while I sniffle and wipe tears away from my eyes. Rory's office is two blocks away. I'll go there. Maybe my taciturn brother will offer to hunt down Gavin and batter him senseless. No, I dinnae want that. Because the worst part of all is that I will always love him, even if we never reconcile.
Gavin Douglas is the love of my life, that ersehole. How could he do this to me?
As I march down the pavement toward Rory's office, I experience something I have never felt before. I think it's what people call an epiphany. Usually, those are a good thing, aren't they? Mine is bloody awful. I've just realized that my relationship with Gavin must have been doomed from the start. His emotional damage has stood between us like a concrete wall ever since the day we met. He can't adjust to living in Scotland. He's made that clear, though he never specifically said so. My brothers might have found their true loves, but I am not that lucky.
Unless...
As I push through the door to Rory's outer office, I realize that I'm still conflicted about Gavin and always will be unless something changes. The only way this will end without both our hearts getting shattered is if he makes the next move.
Please, Gavin, fight for me.