Page 82 of Gideon
“Or I’m just a bit bored and ready to go down the pub,” Gideon offers, and someone in the audience gasps and smothers a laugh.
Steven hesitates barely perceptibly before firming his lips and shooting straight into the reason for this interview.
“Now, Gideon, despite being pictured with many very beautiful women over the years, the rumours have never actually been put to bed that you’re gay. They persist out there with people saying that you’re living a lie, covering your true self in an attempt to cling onto your fame.”
“Rather dramatic,” Gideon says, slouching slightly in his seat. “The last thing I clung onto was the wall, and I was desperately hungover then.”
Oz laughs but I stare at Gid. His face is almost expressionless, but there’s a slight light in his eyes that has never, in all the time I’ve known him,everpresaged anything good.
I sit forward slightly, as do Niall and Silas who obviously recognise the look too.
“You’re right,” Niall says, turning to me and offering me an approving look. “He’s up to something.”
Steven nods thoughtfully at Gideon. “And yet there have been photographs published in the papers today showing you embracing another man. They’re very intimate photos that suggest strongly that you’re not exactly straight.”
Gideon smiles blandly at him. “Well, I’m not. I’m gay,” he says clearly and very casually.
There’s a huge gasp from the audience and Steven sits back looking utterly astonished, his mouth opening and shutting like a fish taking in food.
In the study, I sit up, feeling like my heart is about to come up my throat as Silas and Niall jump to their feet, and Frankie curses loudly and creatively.
“What thefuck?” he breathes, looking panicked. “What the fuck is he doing?”
“Being truthful,” Milo says, and Frankie glares malevolently at him.
“Milo–”
“Shush!” I say crossly to him.
“But you’ve said that you’re straight on many occasions,” Steven says, leaning forwards now, his expression aiming at intent and settling for somewhere between glee and panic.
“Have I?” Gideon looks patently amazed. “I don’t actually believe I’ve ever said anything of the sort.” He waves his hand in a very cavalier fashion. “I don’t bother reading the labels on my clothes, Steven. Why on earth would I put one on myself?”
“I find that a bit rich,” I mutter. “He’s never done his own laundry. Up until a month ago he didn’t even know that clothes could be worn more than once.”
“But you’ve been seen many times with women,” Steven says. “Jacinta Foxton, for one.”
Gideon smiles coldly. “I’ve also been seen walking her dog. I’ve never been accused of shagging it.”
Someone off camera laughs, and Steven gets the look of a man whose simple interview is getting away from him. “Apologies for that use of language,” he says primly. He looks at Gideon for a second as if expecting some show of remorse. There isn’t any. “Moving on,” he says hurriedly. “So, you’re really gay?”
“That’s not moving on. That’s actually just moving back to the previous question,” Gideon says in a helpful sort of way. Then he relents and all traces of sardonic amusement fade. “I haven’t exactly been honest,” he says slowly. “Even if I haven’t directly lied.”
“It’s like Bill Clinton all over again,” Niall murmurs, and Milo shoves him.
“Shush!”
Gideon’s expression becomes stark. “I let my fans assume something about me for years because I was always told that they would hate my sexuality, and me for it. I’m sorry for that, because I think I was putting my own murky feelings about everything onto them. I actually believe that they’re a lot more intelligent than I’ve ever been, but at the time I wasn’t comfortable and couldn’t believe they would be either. And for a long time they were all I had.”
“Aww,” June says from behind me. “Poor man.”
Steven looks suddenly infinitely friendlier. The interview is obviously turning into the scoop of the year in front of his eyes.
“So, what changed? Is it the man in the photos with you? Is he your boyfriend?”
My heart skips a beat. This is it. This is the moment when he’ll either acknowledge it or hide me.
Gideon makes a moue of distaste. “Boyfriend!”
