Page 109 of As The Shifter World Turns

109

ON THE ROAD

Neil

“When you said you were renting a coach, I assumed you meant with rows of seats and if we were lucky, a toilet at the back,” Ryder told Daire as we got on the bus and stared.

The extended Sunshine Manor family was headed to Dreamland Park, a family-oriented amusement park. It was Micah and Daire’s surprise to celebrate the successful release of their reality program.

Flying with kids was a pain in the behind so they suggested we hire a driver, but Anthony informed us he was licensed to drive a coach. It had two big living areas, a kitchen, three bathrooms, and eight bunks, which was the name for a really small bedroom with a double bed, and a huge spacious suite toward the back. As Micah and Archer had two young children, they got the suite. The rest of us took the bunks with Toby excited to have his own.

“As it’ll be a squeeze having the two of us and Charlie in one small room, I’ll sleep in one by myself,” Martin told me. “I’m getting so much work, Neil, I think I need an agent.”

I was so excited for my mate. Of course I was pleased he was earning an income and contributing to the family financially again, but he’d come alive. Meeting new people, being engaged in a new industry, he practically skipped around the apartment.

His phone beeped and he mouthed, “Sorry,” and closed the bunk door.

When Daire had said we could stay on the bus or book hotel rooms at the park, I thought that was a ridiculous suggestion. After checking out the bus, Anthony said he was happy to sleep there and he didn’t need a hotel room, though the rest of us had kids and even though the bus was spacious, we wanted rooms with a view over the park.

With the luggage stowed—there was a lot with all the kids’ paraphernalia—and everyone on board, Anthony closed the door and we were off.

“I’ve counted the TVs on the bus and there are twelve,” Toby shouted.

“Inside voice, sweetheart,” I told him, though I should have informed my mate of the same thing. His raised voice boomed through the bus as he negotiated his hourly rate, informing the person on the other end he wouldn’t get out of bed for under a certain amount of money. Yikes! He hadn’t been modeling for long and I wondered if the listener would call his bluff and he’d lose whatever job they were discussing.

Archer gave me a look while Martin continued to yell as we sat in the spacious back living area. My friend had been dealing with everyone involved in the reality show and when we first met, he was a personal assistant. He had tons of experience in managing people. Ivor nudged Ryder who motioned to Martin to lower his voice. My mate headed toward the front of the bus, where Micah was keeping Anthony company.

Toby raced out of the closest bathroom. “I was the first one to pee on the bus.”

Technically, I think the honor belonged to Charlie and I was about to change his diaper but I gave my older son a high five. When we were done, Ryder, Daire, and Nate were cooking lunch and Martin wandered into the large living space. He collapsed into a big leather chair.

“I’ve read that some supermodels have bigger touring buses than this when they have to travel from job to job and don’t want to fly. Maybe we could get one, Neil, if I'm still earning the big bucks.”

“Perhaps.” I wished my mate would stop talking about his job and money and help out with Charlie. “How much longer before your house repairs are done?” I asked Archer, hoping to change the subject.

“Soon I hope,” my wolf shifter friend replied. “I know it’s a pain having us in 2B.”

Martin interrupted us. “Babe, we can buy a house with all the money I’m making. I’m going to check out listings.” He got up just as his phone beeped. “Another job,” he yelled as he headed into his bunk. Wish he’d stay there and never come out.

“Food’s ready,” Nate announced.

We got the kids fed and headed to my mate’s bunk hoping he’d read Charlie a story while I ate. He took our son begrudgingly, his phone clutched in one hand. “Babe, this is a family vacation. Can you put work on the back burner for a while?”

“I’m trying but coming away has kinda fucked me up. There was a job I wanted that paid really well and I had to turn it down because of coming away with you.”

“But that’s often the case with freelance work. There’s always something you miss out on because you need a break or you’ve taken another job.” While I was sure Martin wasn’t blaming me for him missing out on work, that’s the way it came across.

And when we reached Dreamland Park, Martin was even more absent. Toby wanted to go on the roller coaster, so Daire and Nate went with him because that ride terrified me. Charlie enjoyed the petting zoo and Toby came with us on the merry-go-round. I was dizzy by the end but both my boys had fun.

Ivor pushed Dyani in her stroller over to us as we were eating ice-creams. “Wanna come with me and Archer and hang out at a café for an hour just the three of us. Micah and Ryder are taking the kids to Jungleland.

“Can I go too?” Toby asked as he licked his ice cream. “To Jungleland. Not the café. Boring!” The big grin on his face had me laughing, one of the first times on this trip.

“Of course.” Ivor ruffled my older son’s hair.

“Let me message Martin and have him take Charlie.” I texted and got no reply. Phoned but got a busy signal. “You go with Ryder and Micah, Toby. I’ll bring Charlie with me.’

But my grizzly friend arrived and he stepped up. “I’d love to visit Jungleland.” Charlie put his arms out to Daire and Toby skipped in front of Nate and they headed off.

“Wait for me,” Anthony raced after Toby.

“Thank you.”

Not having a little boy in my arms was strange at first but once we were sitting down and I had a coffee and large brownie in front of me, I took a deep breath before biting into the chocolatey goodness.

As Archer, Ivor, and I had been friends for a while, since before we had babies, I caught them sharing a glance and the air hummed with things unsaid.

“Neil. We’re concerned.” And now something had been said.

“About?” I licked at the frosting on top of the brownie.

“Martin.”

I really wanted to eat that brownie before contemplating everything that was going wrong with Martin and his new career. “We have to cut him some slack,” I told them, though I’d been bending over backwards to accommodate him and his schedule. “Him being out of work dented his confidence and his ego.”

“Well, his ego recovered pretty quickly because now it’s inflated like a hot air balloon.” Ivor took a sip of coffee.

“Ouch! Is it that bad?”

“Worse,” Archer nodded. “We’re glad he fell into a new career and he’s making money. But he talks of nothing else, especially the money.”

I sighed. My mate was on the trip and yet he’d not done anything with the kids. And I didn’t have a solution. “I’ll talk to him, assuming I can tear the damned phone out of his hand. ”

My friends turned toward the door as a familiar voice drifted over to us. “How much is the hourly rate?”

“Good luck with that,” Ivor said.

Martin finished his call and sauntered over to us. “Glad I caught you.”

“Why’s that?” Archer asked as he stared over his coffee mug at my mate.

“I’ll have to cut and run. Gotta big job tomorrow. I’m going to grab my bag and head to the airport. Sorry, babe, but you know how it is.”

“No, I don’t. I don’t know how it is. Tell me, Martin, how is it?” People at the surrounding tables stared at us and whispered behind their hands.

“Don’t be like that. They said you’d be jealous of me working late and on weekends, and I didn’t believe them.”

“Who said that?” I snapped.

“The guys I work with.”

“You’re wrong. It’s not that you’re working long hours. It’s that when you’re with us, your head is elsewhere. And your phone is glued to your hand.”

“You’re being unreasonable. Where are Toby and Charlie? I want to say goodbye before I leave.”

“Jungleland,” Ivor told him.

“I’ll see you at home in a few days. We can talk then.” He stalked off and I rested my head on the table. What happened to the man I mated? The one who was the best dad to Toby and welcomed Charlie into our lives. He’d vanished.