Page 76 of Hold On

Will groaned. “I really hope you’re joking. Is everything okay?”

“Absolutely.” Ren grinned as hard as he could.

“Want to come and eat with us tonight? Dan’s making mushroom stroganoff. Julia has brought wine. There’s plenty. About an hour? I’ll let you get back to…Twister. And don’t forget to tell Mum that you’re both coming.” Will closed his eyes and groaned. “To theparty.”

Ren watched as his brother strode away.

“It might not mean anything,” Dominic whispered.

Ren put a smile on his face before he turned. “Will rarely says sorry. So he means it. I knew he’d see sense.”

Ren knew that wasn’t what Dominic meant but he didn’t want him worrying unduly. But they were definitely going to join the group for the meal this evening and see if anything unfolded. Herb and Maggie. Something or nothing?

Dominic crawled back into the tent after him and sat watching Ren get dressed.Don’t ask me why I didn’t want you to wrap your mouth around my cock.

“Do you really want me to go to your father’s birthday party?” Dominic asked as Ren tied his boots.

“I really do.”

“Is it a special birthday?”

“His sixtieth.”

“Oh God. What does he like? I should get him a present. What have you bought him?”

“Will and I clubbed together for a wine tasting trip to France for him and Mum. You don’t need to buy him anything.”

“Yes, I do.”

Ren crawled closer to him. “I can’t wait until we get a place of our own with a proper bed and bathroom and toilet and a kitchen and beach. Ooh the beach.”

“For a week.”

Ren shrugged. “Play your cards right…” He chewed his lip. “Though I was thinking, maybe we should see if we can persuade Theo and Col to go away for a while and we could stay here.” He tried to sound light-hearted.

“You’re worried about Herb and Maggie.”

“A little.”

“Do you want to move the tent?” Dominic asked.

Ren widened his eyes. “To a place with a spider-free shower and sparkling toilet? Is there such a place?”

“You’re not fooling me.”

Ren thought briefly about trying to brush off Dominic’s comment, and decided not to.

“I don’t like the thought of anyone asking about us. It might just be my magnetic personality they’re missing.”

“But it might not.”

“I know how easy it is to see something when there is nothing to be worried about, but be careful. Think about what you’re asked tonight and tomorrow, and how you’re asked and who asks you, and if anyone nearby is paying more attention than they should. We’ll split up for a while this evening so we chat to more people. It’s most likely nothing, just normal curiosity. But we can’t afford to ignore it.”

“Do you want to move the tent?” Dominic repeated.

“Let’s wait and see. It’ll still be light when we come back. We can always do it then.”

When they reached the campsite, people sat around drinking, and someone was playing the guitar. Ren groaned.

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