Page 52 of Atticus Arnott's Great Adventure
Outside in the sunshine, Atticus wandered over to a line of bikes and presumed that they were for hire. ‘What do you think?’ he asked Ness as the pair studied variousshapes and sizes. He was about to reach for a bike that looked suitable when he heard ading-ding.
A familiar voice broke the silence.
‘Hola!’ it called out, and Atticus looked up to see Sophia, the aqua aerobics instructor, heading towards him.
Pedalling a scooter, she wore the same minuscule red one-piece, teamed with a vibrant visor and trainers. Atticus smiled at her timely arrival.
‘I sorry!’ Sophia said and screeched to a stop. ‘I work with my senior squad; they play bouncing balls today.’
Sophia thrust the scooter to one side and indicated that Atticus follow. As he fell into step behind her, her ample rear had a rhythm of its own. Barely covered by skimpy fabric, Atticus wondered what the senior squad’s blood pressure made of Sophia’s posterior during a bouncing ball game.
‘You want cycle,’ Sophia announced and pulled out a bike. ‘Try this,’ she said and adjusted her visor to watch Atticus tentatively climb on.
It had been years since Atticus had ridden a bike, and at first, he felt quite unsteady, but as he hesitatingly began to move forward, the knack of pedalling soon came back.
Ness began to bark as she ran alongside, and Sophia clapped her hands.
‘Come back!’ she called out. ‘Now we find trailer for dog.’
Sophia insisted that if Atticus was going any distance, it wouldn’t be safe for Ness to run alongside. Fifteen minutes later, lighter by a considerable amount ofeuros, Atticus placed his hat on his head and pedalled away with Ness, upright in a mesh pod attached to the back of his bike.
‘This is life!’ Atticus exclaimed. He was filled with joy as they sped along the site’s paths, immersed in the simple pleasure of a bike ride. Ness, with her head held high and the wind tickling her ears, barked her approval from the rear.
Rounding a corner near the tennis courts, Atticus stared at the pitches as he rode by. They were several times bigger than his own, and his jaw almost dropped when he caught sight of pitch number two hundred.
A motorhome was positioned like a palace on wheels, a symphony of sleek lines and polished surfaces that glittered in the sunshine, inviting admiration from all who passed by. Beside it, in the middle of an open-air haven, Erik was stretched out on a lounger, beneath a vast umbrella.
Looking up, Erik shaded his eyes and, recognising Atticus, stood. ‘Hello, my cowboy friend,’ he called out. ‘Come and have a drink.’
Erik was wearing the briefest Speedos Atticus had ever seen, and as he dismounted, releasing Ness from her pod, Atticus wondered if Erik shopped at the same store as Sophia. Erik’s physique was sculpted, with defined muscles, and his broad shoulders tapered down to a narrow waist. With a chiselled chest and well-defined pecs, Erik commanded attention.
Opening the gate to the pitch, Atticus stepped onto soft, cushioned flooring. ‘My goodness, Erik,’ he began. ‘This is quite a place you have here.’
‘I’m glad you like it,’ Erik said, walking over to acanopied bar. ‘Beer?’ he asked, opening a fridge and holding up a chilled bottle.
‘Perfect,’ Atticus replied.
Atticus’s eyes were wide as he studied a dancing area with a light show and a revolving disco ball. A nearby gym was well-equipped, and Atticus understood the convenience of having a home exercise area. Endless hours of physical dedication had contributed to Erik’s fine physique. Beside the bar, an outdoor kitchen had every device a Michelin-starred chef might need.
‘Do you like it?’ Erik asked.
‘Sensational,’ Atticus smiled.
‘Come, look,’ Erik said, guiding Atticus up several steps.
Inside the motorhome, sumptuous furnishings and skilled craftsmanship unfolded into a series of rooms. Soft leather sofas enclosed the lounge, where panoramic windows added light. A wood-panelled corridor, containing storage, led to a state-of-the-art kitchen. In the softly carpeted ensuite bedroom, a king-sized bed was plumped high with plush pillows. But Atticus’s breath was taken away when he stepped into the entertainment area, complete with a home theatre system, computers, gaming consoles, and a mini bar.
‘My goodness,’ Atticus exclaimed, astonished by what he saw.
‘Take photos, make yourself at home,’ Erik said and sat down.
‘I’ve never seen anything like it.’ Atticus said as he wandered around, enjoying selfies in the luxuriousspace. ‘Do you still work?’ Atticus asked, noting a work area with a desktop.
‘Of course, I run my businesses remotely, and Spain is a good place for me to be.’
‘That’s convenient. What do you do?’
‘Oh, this and that.’ Erik smiled, giving nothing away. Changing the subject, he remarked, ‘You have a bike now, it’s good, we can cycle together. I can show you around.’
