Max tossed a box onto the bed. “Your iPhone. You just disappeared, River. You could have let me know you were all right. I was worried.” He dropped down on the chair near the door.
“I wasn’t. I am now.”
Max sighed, looked between the two of them, then pinned Newt with his gaze. “I got your text butdidyou leak to the press that River was gay?”
“No, he didn’t,” River said. “I did.”
Max opened his mouth, then closed it again, pressing his lips into a tight line but still managing to say “Fuck!”
“You weren’t listening to me,” River said. “You kept saying No. Wait. Not now. There would never have been a…right time. People don’t care. Look at J…Jonathan Bailey!”
“You’re not bloody Jonathan Bailey and some people still care. They dress up their homophobia with excuses and platitudes but you know as well as I do that it still exists in our world. We could have handled this better.”
“We? Like you tried to han…handle Newt by…g…giving him all that money? Didn’t work.”
A muscle twitched in Max’s cheek. “I had a call from my bank about that.”
“I sent it back,” Newt said. “I know why you gave me that much and I won’t accept it.”
“You’ve been good for River. I’m grateful to you. But your history is a problem. You know it is. I don’t want the money back. I was trying to help you make a new start.”
“I have my new start.”
Max gave a short laugh. “I don’t think I’ve ever had anyone refuse my money. Particularly that amount.”
“This isn’t a job anymore,” Newt said quietly. “It hasn’t been for quite some time.”
Max looked at the pair of them and River took hold of Newt’s hand.
“I told you Newt was innocent. You didn’t even help him when he was…arrested.”
“I spoke to the police. There was nothing I could do.”
“I tried to call you both,” Newt said. “I tried and tried and you never answered. I knew River’s phone had been smashed but you could have answered, Max. Then when you finally did, it was only because you assumed I’d told the press River was gay. You didn’t listen. You just shouted at me and rang off.”
Max gave a heavy sigh.
“You arsehole,” River snapped. “Aren’t you even going to say sorry?”
“I’m sorry.” Max looked from Newt to River. “I can put forward all sorts of excuses but none of them are good enough. I’ve only ever wanted to protect River. I’m sorry. I mean it. Please forgive me.”
“We have p-proof now that Newt is…innocent.”
“What sort of proof?”
“A si…signed statement from Newt’s brother.” River glanced at Newt. “We went to his f…funeral today. Phelan said Newt had nothing to do with the…robbery. Newt has a l…lawyer working for him. And over Barney’s death because the police are still…invest…investigating.”
“Is your lawyer good?” Max asked. “Can I get you a better one?”
River knew Max was trying to make things right, but he was still angry with him.
“She’s good,” Newt said. “I like her.”
Max rubbed his forehead. “This is a fucking mess. Had I known about your background…”
“You wouldn’t have given me the job. I get it. I never lied to you. I do have a psychology degree. When I got your phone back, and you offered me the job, you were the first person who hadn’t asked if I had a criminal record. If you had, I’d have told you. I know I’m not good for River’s career.”
“I don’t care,” River said. “You’re good for me… I won’t give you up.” He smiled at Newt, then turned to glare at Max. “But you… I should fire you.”
