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“You got rid of my mother.” His hands ball into fists, and I fear a repeat of the Green Dragon. “Thought she was just another one of your women to pass around your friends. Well you were fucking wrong. And you make me sick.” He’s shouting now.
“Did she tell you that?” I ask, not raising my voice but looking him dead in the eyes.
“She didn’t have to. She said enough. And we all know, in fact the whole world knows, how you operate. I’m not judging you, Dad, it’s just…”
“Like fuck you’re not, James. You are. I did not pass your mother around. I would never do that. Yes, I lost it—a bit—but I wouldn’t have let anyone touch her, only me.”
“Well why the fuck did you let him kiss her. And why did your boyfriend stop her from leaving?”
Xander’s heard the shouting and can’t keep his shit together anymore. “I didn’t try to have sex with her,” he argues, barging into the room, “but I did kiss her. I would have, but, to be honest, I know Marcus wouldn’t have let me. We were just a bit out of control. Gabe just moved to give the impression of stopping her, he wouldn’t have, though.”
This is getting out of hand fast. James is smart, observant, but still so much a kid. “This will be sorted with your mother. I’m not talking about it with you, James. I know she thinks I wanted her to join in with my lifestyle, but I didn't. I only wanted her, only me. I would never have let anyone touch her. I just didn’t get the chance to say rationally what I actually fully wanted before she walked away. I’d lost it. But we’ll leave and won’t come back here. Just let me know where you’ll be and I’ll make arrangements to come see you whenever you want.”
He nods and walks out of the kitchen. Discussion over, and I’m not sure if I’ve won or lost.
I look at Xander. “Do you think I would have let her join in with us all?”
“No, Marcus, no way. You didn’t know which way was up when you came out of that black tent. You were fucking crazed, man. You’d lost it on a grand scale. You were looking at Evie like everything in your life was in her, and you wanted it all at once, and on full display. All I would say is you may not have been bothered who saw you, because you didn’t see anyone else, but her.”
“Fuuuuck. How can I walk away from them? How can I, Xan? I’m not strong enough, I’m not selfless enough. I’m a selfish prick, always have been.”
“Well, don’t change now, Marcus. You’ll lose them both if you do. You walk away, they’ll let you, and they won’t come looking. Just like last time.”
Chapter
Forty
Evie
Well wonders will never cease. I asked for time and it seems Pat Greystone has laid down the law. No contact for a few weeks.
I’m sat with Grace in a posh London bar, drinking cocktails and living the life. After a heart to heart over the party and my leaving, Grace starts to blink tears from her eyes, but when I lose it, she does too. We must look a rare pair of loonies crying over champagne cocktails, but sometimes you just have to—in public or not.
Kenny is joining us later. I hope he doesn’t bring Will. Whilst we’re still friends, I feel he wanted it to be more. And I don’t. I quiz Grace if she’s told him, even in a roundabout way.
“It wasn’t roundabout, Evie. I said don’t fetch him.”
I smile, relieved. “Good. I just need to go out, chat and smile, and go home. That’s as much as I can be bothered at this stage.”
“You’ll meet someone, when you least expect it,” she replies, ever the optimist. “Have they all not been to see you? I can’t believe it. Even Jonno? He’s usually the worst at following you around.”
I look at Grace in surprise. “What do you mean?”
“Well, Jonno popped up everywhere we went. And if it wasn’t him, it was someone he sent. You never got anywhere on your own. I always commented on it to Lauren. Well, when I was talking to her, that was.” She pulls a face.
“How is the stalker?” I laugh derisively.
“Stalking still, apparently. Did you know Marcus—or Kellen, as she refers to him—is coming to the UK next week? To get ready for his UK festival tour. Then he goes off to Europe to do the festivals there and on to Latin America as we head into our winter. You’d think she was the tour manager the way she catalogues his movements. I keep telling her nobody’s bothered, but now she’s got a blog dedicated to him. And it’s got lots of followers apparently. When you’ve met the man, that’s enough for some people to follow you. She’s spouting about how friendly she is with James, and even you! Yada yada yada blah blah blah, barking.”
“Well, I didn’t know they were going to Latin America, so, informative, thanks. James will be going, I think. I’m not sure what the plans are for them. I hope they don’t just put him with Kellen, as I don’t think that’s the best move. James is his own man. I can’t see him putting up with Kellen telling him what to do. You can take nepotism too far.”
Kenny arrives, and I smile and wave him over. He looks very dashing tonight in a navy blue suit, brown shoes combo. My comment about the beautiful tie Grace bought him brings a blush to her face. Safely tucked away in a corner, with no one within ear shot, Kenny dishes a bit of dirt on some well-known bands. Just friends out for a night. And all feels right. So natural.
And then it all doesn’t.
“Evie, are you still ok to look for a building for the record company? I hear you have some buildings down on some docklands that may be good for us.”
I sit stock still, totally taken aback. He looks at Grace in a panic, rushing out, “Have I said something out of turn? Should I not know you own all that?”
