Page 54 of The Good Neighbour

What are we?

“Maybe we should make a statement,” Michael said. “Explaining the real story.”

Hugh shook his head. “I hate Donald, it’s true. I don’t want to ruin my mother’s marriage. He makes her happy and if he loses his job because of it, then it will go badly for her.”

Michael stood, his nostrils flaring. “All this drama affects me, you know. Our career is in fucking tatters.”

“Calm down,” Hugh said.

“No, Hugh. I won’t calm down. What happens when the press find out about this one?”

He stuck his thumb at Josh.

“We’re hardly Posh and Becks,” Josh said.

The idea that he might be dragged into this bizarre backlash hadn’t occurred to him. Would it impact the divorce?

“You’re a name,” Michael replied. “No matter how small.”

“Stop it,” Hugh interjected. “I’m not having Josh insulted in his own home because you’re about to throw a tantrum. I will sort it.”

“How?”

“I don’t know, do I? You’re not helping. I think you should go.”

Michael had gone pale and was trembling.

“Oh great, so I traipse all the way over here on the stinking Underground to warn you and now you’re turfing me out?”

Hugh stood. His height made him tower above the petite Michael.

“You came here for the drama. You should have called. Get a cab and I’ll transfer you the money. Honestly, Michael, you need to give me a break. You know what happens when we’re like this. If we let this drive a wedge between us, we might as well cancel the tour and be done with it.”

“We might not have a choice in that. The bookers want to talk to us. I suppose I’ll have to handle that.”

Josh glanced nervously at Hugh. He looked like he was about to burst into tears.

“Ignore them for now,” Hugh replied. “Let’s see how it plays out. Then we’ll both speak to them.”

It was a stand-off. Josh glanced from one friend to the other. He desperately wanted Michael to concede.

“Fine,” Michael said. “I’ll speak to you after the weekend, I suppose.”

Hugh nodded.

“Don’t bother to show me out,” Michael continued. “I can find my own way.”

He marched out of the room and down the hall. Josh winced when as the front door slammed shut.

“Sorry about that,” Hugh said, slowly sitting down. “He has a right to be annoyed but not to behave like that.”

“I think my door took the brunt of it.”

Hugh wiped a tear away from his eye. “That fucking bastard stepfather of mine,”

“Had you better ring your mum?”

“That’s the last thing I’m going to do,” Hugh replied. “She’ll jump to his defence and I’ll get hurt all over again. Why did she have to fall in love with that piece of shit?”