Chapter 25
Reubyn
Anxiety is written all over Miles’s face as he opens the door.
‘Is everything all right?’ Reubyn delivers the words with a grimace that suggests he knows everything is very muchnotall right.
Miles ruffles his hair with the palm of his free hand as he holds the door open. ‘I just got accosted by another reporter.’ He looks up and down the corridor and closes the door behind them. ‘It’s happening again.’
Reubyn perches on the desk, his lips pressed into a line. ‘I saw the reporter. Is there anything you want me to do?’
‘I don’t think there’s anything wecando.’ Miles falls silent for a moment, then sighs heavily. ‘I’m waiting for the police to get back to me about last night, and in the meantime, I can’t even go to the bloody shop without getting harassed.’
Reubyn frowns and shakes his head. Poor Miles is really being put through the wringer, and the timing of these most recent unfortunate events couldn’t be worse. Reubyn took ownership of the bus this morning, and it’s incredible – even better than the pictures suggested. It’s been months in the planning, and he’s been so looking forward to showing Miles. But he hasa feeling that unveiling it now might be inappropriate. Like cracking a joke at a funeral, it might be just the thing to lift spirits, but there’s also a significant risk it could make matters worse. Reubyn walks over to the window and peers through a gap in the curtains. He looks at Miles and opens his mouth to speak, then changes his mind. He scratches his head. ‘I don’t know whether to tell you this or not.’
Miles clenches his teeth. ‘Oh God. What now?’
‘It’s not like that. It’s nothing to worry about.’
‘Yeah, well, whatever it is, it can’t make things worse than they already are.’
Reubyn’s heart flutters as he grips the curtain and begins to pull it back.
‘Don’t,’ Miles says. ‘I think there’s a photographer out there.’
Reubyn lets go, having widened the gap in the curtains by about a foot, and a shaft of light pierces the centre of the room. ‘But I need to show you. The thing is, it’s parked outside.’
‘What is?’ As soon as the words leave his lips, Miles’s expression changes – his eyes bulge at a realisation.He knows, Reubyn thinks. Miles will have noticed the bus parked outside the hotel – it’s not like it blends in.
Reubyn waves him over. ‘Come and have a look.’
Miles walks to the window and peers out through the curtains.
Reubyn pulls a set of keys out of his pocket and tosses them into his hand. ‘That motorhome down there, it was meant to be a surprise, but in light of what’s been going on, I guess you’re probably not in the mood for surprises.’
They both stare down at the vehicle, taking in its sheer magnitude – it’s the size of a coach. It’s also new and immaculate. The motorhome is on six wheels, and the body is covered in panels and hatches – all hiding fancy features powered by hydraulics.
‘What is this?’ Miles says. ‘Have you hired it or something?’
‘No, I got it through a brand partnership. Normal deal – I just need to promote it with some video content. It’s ours for a week. If you want it, that is.’
Miles is silent. His eyes dart and flicker. And then he smiles, a broad, easy grin – the first time Reubyn has seen him smile in days – and it spreads like a virus to Reubyn’s own lips. ‘Mate,’ Miles says, ‘this is perfect. I mean, it’sperfect.’ He slaps Reubyn on the back. ‘I can’t believe you did this. It’sgenius.’
Reubyn beams. ‘I’m glad you like it.’
‘I have questions, though.’
‘Fire away.’
Miles points out of the window. ‘Do you even know how to drive that thing?’
Reubyn laughs. ‘Yep. I had a go just now.’ He decides not to mention the fact that, strictly speaking, he’s meant to have an HGV licence – something he assured the company he had. ‘I’ve had some lessons. It’ll be worth it, I reckon. I should get some good content out of it.’
‘When can we leave?’
‘Whenever we want.’
‘Tonight?’
