Page 59 of Love Thief

“Is it true she owns docklands?” Think they’ve got that bit mixed up, but I say yes.

They ask about James, too.

“Is she his mother?”

“How does she feel about all the other women?”

Fuck that.

I’m leaving the interviews more and more annoyed.

“It’ll die down once they get used to it,” says Xan, patting me on the back. “Well done for not snapping.”

“Sorry, lads,” I say to them all. “Please feel free to jump in with any answer you feel like, even if it’s not relevant, try to throw them off.”

“I suppose it’s to be expected. You are the most unlikely man to ever have got married,” puts in Levi.

“Why? I’ve been married before. I would’ve thought I was the most likely,” I defend myself.

“You’re also divorced, so no not really,” says Gabe.

“What can I say, hopeless romantic.” I’m laughing at them all now.

“Fuck off,” Levi scoffs. “You had more women while you were married than us that weren’t. You’ve made it very well known your one and done rule was well in force, so, no, not likely at all.”

“Soul mates?” I say, continuing to laugh.

“You’re so full of shit, Marcus,” says Levi, “but if it gets us more publicity, then fine.”

“Talking of soul mates, how come Becky’s still here?” Xander asks. “I thought you wanted rid of her.”

“CBA to find someone else at the minute. And she wants to fuck girls, and for me to watch as well as join in, so I’m happy to go with that.” He pats Gabe on the back. “I’m not sure Gabe is up to it, after your dining room sessions, but he’ll give it a go, won’t you.”

“A really big one,” Gabe agrees, looking round. “Is that the two women who were with us at your birthday, Marcus?” He points to the bar.

“Yep, be my guest, I’m not interested,” I tell him. “We’ll be gone tonight.”

We walk towards the bar, following Gabe and Levi. Might as well since we get drinks all free here. The girls are making the most of it, and I see evidence of them doing blow.

I look around to see if Evie’s back. She isn’t, and my shoulders drop as I relax a bit. I was worried what I might walk back into. My head is still on a swivel however, as I constantly watch out for her.

“She’ll stay away until the last minute,” Xan says to me, reading my mind as usual. “She knew who they were,” he indicates with his head towards the two women.

“Are you sure?”

He nods, “Totally.” I saw her face when she turned to Tommy. She knew.”

“Fuck, this gets worse and worse. I regret that fucking tent so much.” I scrub my hand down my face.

He shrugs. “Don’t fuck it up again then.”

He pats me on the back just as John Clayton comes over to catch up with us. He’s all the rage, a DJ but also a big collaborator in the music world. We get talking shop and find out he’s going to be in South America at the same time as us. We talk about doing something together over the summer to take on tour there. I get excited about the music and recording, Xan joins the conversation, and by the time we have a few whiskeys, we’re well on the way to working something out together.

The girls clearly don’t enjoy being ignored and are constantly trying to get our attention, John being no slouch with the ladies either.

“We’re being flagged,” he tells us.

“Ignore them” I say, as we try to carry on our discussion.

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