Page 75 of Waiting for Ru
“Possibly true. But if you want to be a vet, then you’ll move heaven and earth to make it happen.”
“I don’t think I want to learn about animals other than horses.”
“I thought that too.”
“I don’t know what to do.”
“Maybe by the end of the week, you will.”
Ru followed Leigh into his house, a modern detached on the edge of a village, and put his backpack by the door.
“We’re home, babe!” Leigh called.
A guy with pierced ears and eyebrows and a ring through his lip came out of a room at the end of the hall. “So you are.”
“This is Newt,” Leigh said.
Newt kissed Leigh and turned to Ru. “And you’re Ru. Can I have a hug?”
He didn’t wait for an answer, but wrapped his arms around Ru and hugged him. Ru was so shocked, he froze.
“Don’t break his ribs,” Leigh said. “Not everyone wants to be hugged by a walking scrapyard.”
“Ru does.” Newt whispered in Ru’s ear, “Pretend to be enjoying it.”
Ru gave a hesitant groan.
“Louder,” Newt whispered.
“Let him go,” Leigh said. “Don’t you think your face scares him enough without you crushing him into a moan?”
“Oh hush. Come on in and have a drink, Ru.”
Ru inhaled when Newt released him. He followed them through into a large open plan kitchen where glass doors had been opened onto decking. A neatly cut lawn stretched out beyond.
“Newt is very hands on,” Leigh said. “Just elbow him if it gets too much.”
“Glass of white wine?” Newt asked Ru.
“That would be grand, thank you.”
Newt gave a long moan. “That Irish accent. Oh my God. I could eat you.”
“I might be a bit gristly.”
“And I might be a bit jealous.” Leigh laughed.
Ru gasped. “I didn’t mean—”
“Now you’ve mortified him.” Newt pushed a glass into Ru’s hand.
Ru noticed that the table was set for four and wondered who else was there.
“BBQed salmon and salad. Okay?” Newt smiled at him.
“Gr— Lovely.”
“So how was your day?” Leigh slung his arm over Newt’s shoulder.
