Page 55 of The Good Neighbour

Josh reached over and took his hand. They sat at the table for a while as Hugh got himself together.

“Any ideas what you’re going to do?” Josh asked tentatively.

“Not a clue,” Hugh replied. “First the TV show and now this. It’s like someone has it in for me. What is it going to be like when we start the tour? I’m…”

He stopped and glanced at Josh.

“You’re what?”

“I’m afraid. I don’t know how to do anything else. If the bookers get cold feet, we’re well and truly done for. Washed up drag queens are not in fashion.”

Words were failing Josh. He had no idea how to make this better. The video was pretty damning.

“What if this is someone out to get me?” Hugh asked.

Josh kissed the back of his hand. “It’s a coincidence. Nothing more. You’re talented and now you have Mrs Wimpole on side, this tour is going to be amazing.”

Hugh nodded. “I didn’t even tell Michael about that. I’ll call him later.”

“I wouldn’t until we’ve come up with a proper plan. He wants answers and that’s okay.”

“We?”

“Absolutely we,” Josh replied. “You’re way too handsome to risk these worry lines.”

Hugh sighed. “If only Botox dealt with life as easily as it does wrinkles.”

“Let’s go for a walk,” Josh suggested. “For once it’s not pissing down with rain. Fresh air might get the old brain going. Do you think you should ring your mum?”

“Probably,” Hugh replied. “Am I going to? Hell no. Thank you for your help. It means the world.”

Josh stared into Hugh’s eyes. Other people’s problems had always been preferable to his own. Although he really needed to face those as well. Once they’d both weathered their own storms, who knew what lay on the other side.

Looking at Hugh at that moment, Josh decided that he was absolutely committed to finding out. He could well imagine the judgemental posts that were swirling around social media. Careers had been ruined for less.

There must be something they could do.

CHAPTER TWELVE

They spent the weekend at Josh’s house. Hugh rarely got weekends off and he told Josh that he always made the most of it. Yet, he didn’t feel like facing the world. The worry about the video hung over them like a spectre.

Josh had spent a ridiculous amount of time in the house over the recent weeks. It became a totally different affair when he had someone to share it with.

When Monday came around, Josh sent Hugh off to go to Michael’s to speak to the bookers. Mercifully, the video hadn’t been trending since the previous morning. For once, Hugh had said he was glad they weren’t super big. He was going to throw himself at the mercy of the bookers and promise them that he didn’t have any more skeletons in his closet.

Josh had cleaned things up in the house and gone into the studio. He needed a few hours of focusing on something other than social media nonsense. He had no doubt that Hugh and Michael would talk the bookers around. Even so, the fear from Hugh that someone was out to get him didn’t leave Josh’s mind.

Could it be true?

“It’s all go with you at the moment, isn’t it?” Suzanne said, cutting into his thoughts.

“Isn’t it just?”

They were going over the new collection with a forensic eye. Josh wanted it to be absolutely perfect. A few magazines had already been in contact for interviews. It appeared that Josh coming out of seclusion was slightly newsworthy. He didn’t really want to encourage it. Things were nerve-wracking enough. A soft launch would be fine.

“Are you finding the time to deal with your own shit?”

Josh nodded. “I spoke to the lawyer before I left the house. They’re in touch with Winston’s people and going to get hold of this list of his. I dread to bloody think what’s on it.”