I pointed with the big cup.
He opened the flap and showed me. It was an older PlayStation with the cord wrapped all around it, stuffed in his bag, and a couple of controllers. “You stole it out of the house?”
“Aye, seemed like we needed it.”
“True, what games you got in there?”
He looked through three games. “Call of Duty, Gran Turismo, and Golf.”
I said, “Smart thinking. Either we are going to have so much fun or Quentin will never send us on a supply run again. It’s a win-win.”
He laughed. “When he sees m’bag of pens he is goin’ tae send me on all the supply runs.”
I laughed too.
He pulled a vessel from his pocket, then narrowed his eyes. “I ken we are headed back tae Balloch, but...”
I slurped some of my Sprite. “But what?”
Lochie said, “I am in a hurry tae get ye tae Stirling.”
I asked, “Is that so that we can get married?”
He nodded, “I daena think I can wait any longer.”
I nodded looking up in his eyes. “But didn’t we tell them we were coming straight?—”
Lochie said, “I daena think ye understand, Ash, how desperate I am tae marry ye. M’mind inna workin’ anymore. I canna think over m’thoughts on... ye ken, and I told ye, tis dangerous tae jump, what if something happens tae us and we are unmarried? And... now I hae seen yer pink underwear and we ought tae be married — then ye are m’wife. I am yer husband, twill give us more protection.”
I smiled. “You are really desperate, I am close to saying yes, but... I really don’t like the idea of disappointing anyone,especially Quentin.” I looked around at the stuff we brought, it was a poor showing. I sipped from my Big Gulp.
He said, “We could go meet Magnus at Stirling, get married, then return tae Balloch — we time travel, we wouldna even be late. If ye think about it, Ash, we ought tae do it that way or yer peaches will become too ripe and yer pie winna taste as good.”
“Oh this is about my peach pie, huh?”
“Aye, Ash, everythin’ is about yer pie. Tis all there is in the whole world.”
I sighed. “This is very sweet. Okay, I’ve put you off long enough, let’s go to Stirling and get married.”
Lochinvar grinned then began working the vessel.
I narrowed my eyes. “You know how to set it?”
“Aye, tis just...” His voice trailed off, I saw him pause and it seemed like he was counting in his head, it was disconcerting, but then finally he said, “Aye, tis right...” He looked down on it, then said, “Och, ye need this as well.” He twisted it and did one more thing. Then he nodded.
I felt alarmed. “It’s set? You’re sure, we could go to Balloch first.”
“Tis set, trust me, Ash, we are goin’ tae the agreed upon date tae meet Og Maggy at King’s Park, Stirling. Ye are armed?”
I jokingly held up the Big Gulp.
He chuckled.
I said, “We’re going to time travel with our Big Gulps so that when we wake up we can immediately drink some.”
He said, “We haena ever tried it, tis a genius idea.”
“Good, we make a good team. And yes, I am armed. But we’re going to Stirling — Magnus will be there to meet us, right?”
