was just his irritation at having to perform – or in this case, delegate – tasks he thought he was too good for. It was annoying and frustrating, but I reminded myself of the checks that would be deposited into my account, covering my father’s medical bills and my old debts, and the work became a little more enjoyable.
Just as I was wrapping up my review of the last agreement, the bus swerved out of its lane and onto the shoulder of the highway, or whatever they called them here. Motorway, maybe.
“Sorry, folks,” the driver called out. “Little technical problem.”
I looked over at Ryan, but he was engrossed in a telephone call and didn’t seem to even notice we weren’t moving anymore. Everyone else was curious, but casual. So I hopped up, smoothed down the front of my dress and followed the driver off the bus.
“What’s up, Tony?” I asked.
He leaned against the side of the bus and smiled. “Nothing too serious, I don’t think, Miss.”
“Please, call me ‘Becca’.”
He nodded and the weak sunlight glinted off the top of his balding head. “All right, then.”
“Is there anything I can do?”
“No. I’ll be having a look and if I can’t fix the problem we can call for assistance.”
I looked around. “Where are we, anyway?”
“Not far outside of Manchester, Miss-er, Becca.”
“Okay. Well, I’m going to go back in and update everyone. Yell if you need anything.”
He chuckled. “Send one of the crew boys out to lend a hand. You’re too little and I’d hate to ruin your pretty dress.”
I blushed and smiled. The clipped tones of his words did nothing to hide the kindness in him and I wished he could stay with us the whole tour instead of just the UK bus leg.
Climbing back up onto the bus, I saw no one had moved and shook my head. Obviously no one but me was worried about the schedule. I went over to Red, the tour’s bodyguard, and asked him to go help Tony with the bus. He agreed and shambled off, like a moving mountain.
Then I stepped over to where Ryan sat. He was still on the phone, but made a gesture indicating I could speak. “Ryan, I spoke to the driver about the bus breaking down.”
“Good. How long are we stuck here?”
“He doesn’t know yet. I’ll get an update as soon as possible. But, we left ahead of schedule, so a little time won’t be a huge problem.”
“True. Make sure everyone is happy, okay? I don’t want the guys getting cranky.”
I nodded. “Sure.” But by the time I finished the word, he’d turned his seat facing the window and was muttering into his headset again.
With a sigh I went back to where the rest of our group was sitting. “Guys, as you probably noticed, the bus is having some issues. We should be back on the road soon. In the meantime, does anyone need or want anything?”
Joe, the magnetic lead singer, ignored me. He was wrapped in a tight embrace with his girlfriend, Liss. Not for the first time, I watched their closeness with a pang of jealousy.
Dex and Matthew were still playing video games, but both took a second to shake their heads.
Rick, of course, glowered at me like it was my fault the bus broke down. “What are you, a stewardess now?”
“No, just trying to help out.”
“Yeah, well, the only help we need is getting this hunk of junk moving again. Unless you’re gonna get behind it and push, give it a rest already.”
I took a deep breath. He was such a jerk to everyone for no reason. But this was not the time to get into an argument with him, so I ignored the comment and turned to check on the rest of the passengers.
But before I could open my mouth, he came at me again.
“Seriously. Why don’t you fuck off? Go make a phone call or read a spreadsheet. I’m sick of being surrounded by a bunch of up-tight suits.”
My eyes widened. I had no idea what had crawled up his ass and died, and didn’t much care. It was ridiculous that he got away with acting like that. “Rick, everyone. Just relax.
Just as I was wrapping up my review of the last agreement, the bus swerved out of its lane and onto the shoulder of the highway, or whatever they called them here. Motorway, maybe.
“Sorry, folks,” the driver called out. “Little technical problem.”
I looked over at Ryan, but he was engrossed in a telephone call and didn’t seem to even notice we weren’t moving anymore. Everyone else was curious, but casual. So I hopped up, smoothed down the front of my dress and followed the driver off the bus.
“What’s up, Tony?” I asked.
He leaned against the side of the bus and smiled. “Nothing too serious, I don’t think, Miss.”
“Please, call me ‘Becca’.”
He nodded and the weak sunlight glinted off the top of his balding head. “All right, then.”
“Is there anything I can do?”
“No. I’ll be having a look and if I can’t fix the problem we can call for assistance.”
I looked around. “Where are we, anyway?”
“Not far outside of Manchester, Miss-er, Becca.”
“Okay. Well, I’m going to go back in and update everyone. Yell if you need anything.”
He chuckled. “Send one of the crew boys out to lend a hand. You’re too little and I’d hate to ruin your pretty dress.”
I blushed and smiled. The clipped tones of his words did nothing to hide the kindness in him and I wished he could stay with us the whole tour instead of just the UK bus leg.
Climbing back up onto the bus, I saw no one had moved and shook my head. Obviously no one but me was worried about the schedule. I went over to Red, the tour’s bodyguard, and asked him to go help Tony with the bus. He agreed and shambled off, like a moving mountain.
Then I stepped over to where Ryan sat. He was still on the phone, but made a gesture indicating I could speak. “Ryan, I spoke to the driver about the bus breaking down.”
“Good. How long are we stuck here?”
“He doesn’t know yet. I’ll get an update as soon as possible. But, we left ahead of schedule, so a little time won’t be a huge problem.”
“True. Make sure everyone is happy, okay? I don’t want the guys getting cranky.”
I nodded. “Sure.” But by the time I finished the word, he’d turned his seat facing the window and was muttering into his headset again.
With a sigh I went back to where the rest of our group was sitting. “Guys, as you probably noticed, the bus is having some issues. We should be back on the road soon. In the meantime, does anyone need or want anything?”
Joe, the magnetic lead singer, ignored me. He was wrapped in a tight embrace with his girlfriend, Liss. Not for the first time, I watched their closeness with a pang of jealousy.
Dex and Matthew were still playing video games, but both took a second to shake their heads.
Rick, of course, glowered at me like it was my fault the bus broke down. “What are you, a stewardess now?”
“No, just trying to help out.”
“Yeah, well, the only help we need is getting this hunk of junk moving again. Unless you’re gonna get behind it and push, give it a rest already.”
I took a deep breath. He was such a jerk to everyone for no reason. But this was not the time to get into an argument with him, so I ignored the comment and turned to check on the rest of the passengers.
But before I could open my mouth, he came at me again.
“Seriously. Why don’t you fuck off? Go make a phone call or read a spreadsheet. I’m sick of being surrounded by a bunch of up-tight suits.”
My eyes widened. I had no idea what had crawled up his ass and died, and didn’t much care. It was ridiculous that he got away with acting like that. “Rick, everyone. Just relax.
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