Page 106 of Only One Tour Bus

And I’m starting a business. It’s not exactly the best time. But he has to do it on his terms.

I rub my forehead, a headache already forming. “I can’t…right now. You’re asking a lot, and this event is important, to me and my new business. We can talk later.”

Callum looks crushed, but he steps back. “I understand. Of course. I reacted badly and took the coward’s way out, and I get why you don’t trust me. But I am being honest, finally.”

“How can I trust that?” Because I want to. But I keep being told how naive I am and maybe that’s catching up to me. Especially when he’s already left once.

“I’ll show you that I can be trusted, that I’ve changed. Because I’m not giving up. Unless you tell me to, of course. I’ll respect if you decide you don’t want me.” He takes another step back. “Enjoy your day. You’ve started an amazing company and I wish you all the success with it.”

“Thank you,” I whisper. But he’s already walking away.

I shake my head and walk back to my event. I don’t know how I’m supposed to focus on work now. But I have a new business, so I don’t have any other option.

Two days later

“Mom, I have my first real, not-from-a-person-known-to-me booking!” I dance around my apartment. It’s been a few days since the event and I already have a booking! I’m basically Apple, but for tourism!

“I knew it! Move over Indra Nooyi, my daughter is the new CEO in town!”

I stop dancing. “I don’t even know who that is.”

“She was the CEO of Pepsi. And Indian. But you will out-business her!”

“I have one booking for a weekend of guiding in town. One of my cheapest tours because of the lack of hotel room required for me. I don’t think I’m at the level of a billion-dollar company just yet.”

And they already have lodging, so I don’t even need to organize that. But it’s my first booking! And I have some people making inquiries from the event too, emailing back and forth to see if I can plan a tour for them. A lot already bowed out, but some are still talking.

It’s a start.

“I’ve got to go, Mom. I have to plan a weekend of ‘fun and frivolity with a hint of history’ for this customer and his friends.” And this is a perfect first assignment. Someone who wants to enjoy their vacation and learn a few things along the way.

I tried to get more details out of them, such as likes and dislikes, but they said they liked being surprised and not having to deal with the planning.

All right then, first customer. You’ll get the best weekend I can give you.

Two days later

I wait outside the Scotch Whisky Experience. I thought this would be a nice introduction to a fun weekend, with a hint of educational material.

I offered to meet C.K., the client, at his hotel, but he said they would meet me at the first event. I’m surprisingly nervous, despite doing this same thing for five years. But the stakes are much higher now that this is my business we’re talking about.

“Asha,” an Irish voice calls out behind me. A familiar Irish voice.

“Callum. What…” I turn, looking at the man in confusion.

“I’m C.K. Callum Kelly.” He clears his throat. “I made the booking.”

“My first booking isn’t real?” It’s the only thing I can think of. And it’s crushing.

“Oh, fecking shite. I didn’t think of that. But it is real! Completely, 100 percent real. I’ve paid and if you don’t want to take me around the city, that’s fine. Consider it an investment you never have to pay back. I’m going to write a rave review either way, because I know you’re an amazing tour guide, whatever happens this weekend.”

“But why?” I still can’t get over the fact that I still do not have a client.

Personally, I am happy to see Callum, because I love the grumpy man, and I’ve missed him so much. Every time I was planning my sample tours, I could hear Callum in my head, judging my choices, or giving me slight praise which I know means deep respect to the emotionally stunted man. Since I haven’t had any clients, I’ve had a lot of time alone during the day, and all I can think about is how much I want to tell Callum something, half for his opinion on the matter and half because I want to see his reaction to things.

But professionally, I want to strangle the man because I was so excited that my business was working, and now I know it isn’t. Yet. I thought I was going to be an overnight success! And now I know it’s going to take a few more nights than that. Bummer.

“I wanted to show you that I could change. That I have changed a little by knowing you. In a good way. I can see that having fun is a good way to spend a vacation. So I thought going on a fun weekend in the city with you would show you that I can meet you in the middle. I won’t ever be as excited about anything as you are at your least excited, except for about you, but I love seeing the world with you and through your eyes.”