“Not really. It’s been quiet.”
“You’re boring.”
“You’re the one I usually get my gossip from,” said Milo, laughing. “I should ask you if you have anything for me?”
“Well, I’ve only been here for an hour, so nothing major yet, but I know that someone is gunning for the deputy prime minister.”
“What do you mean?”
“There have been half a dozen anonymous calls suggesting people follow him and they’ll find out about his secret double life.”
“Is that all they’re saying?”
“Yeah. They think it’s someone with a grudge, as it sounds like the same person each time, but they’re disguising their voice. It’s a man, but nobody has placed him.”
“Are they investigating whether it’s true?”
“Not without any evidence. If they followed every anonymouscall about a politician, they’d get no work done. You know what Patrick thinks of wasting time on calls like that.”
That was true. Milo knew people would call and make wild accusations about politicians and celebrities. Patrick was supportive of anonymity for people offering stories, but he wanted more than a rumour to justify the team spending time on it. Milo wondered who would want to go after Edward Chivington. It made him think of Kieran, who would love to know about this, so Milo wouldn’t be telling him. A four-hour rant about privilege and the favoured few was something he could do without. It was a good job he’d gone into tattooing. He couldn’t imagine Kieran ever navigating corporate life with all the internal politics and favouritism that Liam spoke about. The guy had to deal with a lot of shit, but he was paid well into six figures for his troubles, though it wasn’t something Milo could do.
Thinking of Edward Chivington made him think of his own Eddie. He couldn’t believe he’d revealed his name, but he didn’t seem to regret saying it. Milo snorted when the idea popped into his head that they could be the same person. That would be pretty fucked up.
“What’s funny?” asked Josie.
“Intrusive thoughts.” He’d forgotten she was still there.
“Ooh, anything juicy? Is it a new man?”
“No . . . no . . . nothing like that.”
She gave him one of her mum looks, but there was no way he was getting into what was happening with Eddie. How would he even start that conversation?
For the last few months I’ve been meeting a guy called Eddie and fucking him stupid in a dark room. I have no idea what he looks like, but it’s the best sex I’ve ever had.
Yeah, he wasn’t sure anyone could understand that. Lexie and Liam were the only ones who knew some of it, but not all. His other flatmates were a different story. They suspected he was seeing someone, as they’d made a few comments, butthey weren’t pushing it. Kieran had offered to set him up with some of his customers from the tattoo shop, which was usually a surefire way to get Milo interested, and when he’d declined, they knew something was going on.
The last thing he needed was their opinion on the matter; they’d immediately think the worst and get into his head. Milo knew it could only end one way, and that was with him getting hurt, but somehow he’d developed feelings for Eddie. He knew it was just sex for the older man, though. He hadn’t said that, but there had never been a suggestion they meet somewhere else, or even exchange phone numbers. Even though this could only end one way, Eddie was like a drug, and Milo couldn’t get enough of him.
Patrick asked Milo to join him for lunch. He wasn’t sure why. It wasn’t like they hadn’t had lunch before, but given how busy it had been this week, he’d suspected Patrick would want to lock himself away for the rest of the day, especially after having his morning derailed.
“Milo, I had an ulterior motive in asking you for lunch today.”
“Whatever it is you think I did, I will find evidence that it was someone else.”
Patrick chuckled. “Nothing like that. I actually wanted to get your opinion on something.”
“Okay. Should I be worried?”
“No, you’ve just got that moral centre that we journalists don’t,” he said with a self-deprecating smile.
“I wouldn’t include yourself in that. You’ve always been fair and given people the opportunity to share their side of the story. It’s up to them if they haven’t taken up your offer.”
“I appreciate that. This one is delicate, but we’ve been getting a lot of calls about a politician who might be closeted.”
“Chivington?”
“Josie?”
