Page 158 of Waiting for Ru
“You will.” Ru fell asleep mid-chuckle.
The journey north was a lot to do in one go, over four hundred and twenty miles. At least seven and a half hours of driving if they’d used motorways. Ru now had a provisional licence but he couldn’t drive on a motorway and he wasn’t supposed to drive if Jasim was asleep beside him. So instead of Jasim driving all the way, they made an adventure out of the journey, and stayed off motorways so Ru had plenty of time behind the wheel. They also stayed overnight in a hotel and no one batted an eye about them being a mixed-race gay couple. Another step on a journey they were both on.
Ru knew he was annoying Jasim by being over anxious, but it was hard not to say something when he saw Jasim doing something too strenuous.
“Let me put the petrol in.”
“I’ll carry the bags.”
“Don’t bend over. I’ll pick it up.”
Eventually, Jasim had snapped, “Would you like to wipe my backside too?”
That shut Ru up. For a while at least.
“Shall I drive?”
“Do you need anything to eat?”
“We could stop at your favourite restaurant. McDonald’s.”
Jasim laughed.
“Oh the sea!” Ru stared out of the window. “You can’t look. You’re driving.”
“Really?”
“Well, you can look, but don’t stare. I can’t believe those guys on the TV that turn to talk to their passenger when they’re driving.”
“So you keep telling me. Let’s stop for a few minutes. Contact your brother and tell him we’re twenty minutes away.”
Ru texted Ink, and Jasim pulled over into a layby.
“Let’s cross the road and look at the sea.” Jasim was out of the car before he’d finished speaking.
Ru hurried after him across the road.
“My God. This is beautiful,” Jasim said.
It was. The middle of the afternoon and the sun was shining on white horses that pranced into shore on the glittering sea. Jasim moved behind Ru and pulled him into his arms.
“Cookie and Joni would love it on this beach,” Ru said.
“All the horses would. I’m never selling either of them, by the way.”
Ru swivelled round in Jasim’s hold and looked up at him. “Not even Cookie?”
“If it hadn’t been for Cookie and Joni, I wouldn’t have met this earnest young man who made me realise I had a heart.”
“Who was that?” Ru mock-glared at him.
“A young man who’s grown so much in confidence that he dares to tease me all the time. A young man who makes me laugh. A young man who listened to the worst secret of my life and didn’t run away.
“That’s all right then. Come on. Can I drive the rest of the way?” Ru took his hand and pulled him back to the car.
“Is that all I get for my declaration?”
“I have a literal and metaphorical prince for a boyfriend. That makes up for a lot.” Ru leaned over in the car and kissed him. “I love you. And my brother and Tay are going to love you too because you love me. Oh, they have a dog, called Dog. Are you okay with dogs?”
