“I get the message. We do need to manage this, though. Both you outing yourself and Newt’s history. Navy Blue PR managed to tidy up after Ethan Ward made his dick rather public. At least you haven’t done that. Please don’t. Send me the name and number of your lawyer, Newt. I’ll talk to her. We need you speaking out, River. Going on TV, maybe? Up for that? Telling people why you hid what you were for so long? Why you’re speaking out now? You want to talk about your family? If you want to do that, I’ll support you. But I’ll need you to stick to the script, which will be written for you. No going off-piste.”
“Fuck off,” River said.
Max’s cheeks twitched as he twisted his mouth in annoyance.
“I mean it. I’m pissed off with you, Max. I’ll make my own de-decisions. I’ll write my own s-script. Has Mish…Misha been in touch?”
“He might not have seen—yet.”
“If he’s…odd about it, I don’t care. I want Newt more than that role. I mean it.”
Max huffed, then turned to Newt. “I thought you’d be a bit of fun. Someone who would distract him while you helped him learn to talk again. I thought it might make River’s recovery speedier. I mean, you’re gorgeous. Not my type but I suspected you might be River’s. I miscalculated your appeal.”
“You’re my pimp too?” River snapped.
“I love you,” Max said. “I’ve tried to be a father to you. I wanted to protect you. You’re a star in the making, but if you said you wanted out of the business, I’d support you. I only want the best for you.”
“I know what I want.” River swallowed hard.
“I understand how precious River is,” Newt said. “I don’t want to damage his career. I watchedMedway Boysat the cinema last night. It was…astounding.” He turned to River and smiled.
River squeezed his fingers.
“It is astounding,” Max said. “So is River. There’s already talk of Oscars for the film, including one for best actor. Maybe that will be what saves you.”
“Newt already did that.”
Max nodded and pushed to his feet. “Newt. I need a word. Come out of the bedroom, please.”
Newt pulled on a T-shirt and once Newt was out of the room, Max closed the door. River slipped out of bed, tiptoed across the carpet and pressed his ear to the wood.
“I am sorry I misjudged you. But take the money.”
“No.”
“I’m not asking you to leave him but have the money.”
“No.”
Max gave a short laugh. “River’s not experienced. He’s not… He doesn’t know what… Please don’t break his heart.”
“You think I’m experienced? You imagine I’d break his heart? Never. I shared my first kiss with him. I hope I’ll share my final one with him too when we’re old and grey. The last thing I’d want to do is hurt him.”
River smiled.
“You might not mean to, but please be careful.”
“Always.”
“Do you love him?”
River gulped.
“You expect me to answer that when I’m pretty sure he has his ear pressed to the other side of this door? When I’m ready to say those words, it will be River I tell, not you. You can be such a dick, Max. But River’s told me what you did for him when his family were killed and I’m glad he had you in his life then. I know you’re trying to protect him, but he’s all grown up now. He has to make his own decisions, his own mistakes. And you were an arsehole not answering the phone when I rang. I was so worried about him. I thought… For a while, I thought he was dead.”
Max sucked in a breath. “I’m sorry. He told you what his father did?”
“Yes. I don’t know why you want to hide it. Look at what River’s done, what he’s achieved, what he’s fought back from. He’s awesome.”
