Page 47 of Hold On

“I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

“Oh God.” But Ren heard him laugh.

Ren didn’t speed. He didn’t do anything risky. Didn’t overtake when it looked a bit tight, even though he knew he could make it, because he didn’t want Dominic to freak out. The guy was a little quiet. More than a little, but then he was a quiet guy generally, and he’d not told Ren to stop or slow down. Ren had looked up a route last night and was now driving to the highest point that could be reached within an hour of Asquith.

“Thanks for taking me out,” Dominic said.

“Having fun?”

“I haven’t opened my eyes yet.”

Ren laughed.

“I did notice that old lady on a pushbike managed to overtake us.”

“I thought you’d got your eyes closed.”

“I opened them once.”

“Want me to go faster?”

“Yes.”

Dominic’s grip tightened as Ren accelerated. He leaned when Ren leaned, whooped in Ren’s ear and Ren smiled. Now they were both having fun. But he still didn’t push it. He could tell from the way Dominic held on to him whether he was comfortable or not. Ren felt less secure as a passenger than he did as a driver, so he understood.

When he finally pulled into a small car park, he was aching. There were no other vehicles, much to his delight.

“Same principle for getting off. Wait until I’m standing.”

By the time Ren had switched off the bike, Dominic had taken off his gloves, helmet and jacket. Ren took his off too.

“You’re good,” Dominic said.

“Mostly I’m not.”

Dominic’s eyes darkened.

“I could tell by the way you clutched me whether I should overtake. You’re quite an accessory.”

“I actually did close my eyes when you overtook that tractor.”

“What tractor?”

Dominic smiled. “So where are we?”

“Connaught Hill. It’s not going to rain so we can secure the helmets on the bike. Saves us carrying them.”

Ren took a backpack out of the box. “Picnic of sorts. Not up to Theo’s standards. We’ll leave the jackets and gloves.”

He locked those in the box before shouldering the backpack.

“Now for a ten-mile hike,” Ren said.

“I’ll wait here for you. Don’t get lost.”

But when Ren set off, Dominic followed.

At the top of the footpath, the view opened up and Dominic gasped. “Wow.”

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