Page 60 of Hollywood Games
Zoe got it and helped him patch the cuts with Steri-Strips, as he told her how a journalist had filmed him throwing Brad in the loch and carrying her back to the cabin, and assumed she was Kirsten. Zoe clapped her hands to her mouth, alternating between gasps of horror and mirth as he relayed the story.
‘This is going to be the best publicity ever for the castle!’
Rory gave her a look. ‘That’s what Charlie said. But it’s not you slapped across the internet.’
Zoe sobered up, although she struggled not to smile. ‘You’re right, and I’m sorry. Do you think they’ll come back?’
‘Definitely, but they’ll be in for a surprise when they do. I’ve got a lot to do today. You okay to deal with Brad and the rest on your own?’
‘Yes of course. What are you going to do?’
‘I’m going to have some fun with Charlie.’
Zoe and Roryleft the cabin and went their separate ways, Rory back to the castle and Zoe to Morag’s. As far as Zoe was concerned, Kirsten no longer had a stand-in. She didn’t care about breaking her contract. It was a better option than thumping her. She still felt shaken by seeing Rory covered in blood, and wanted to avoid everyone to do with the film as much as possible. They would be shooting at the cabin during the day, so the only place she could avoid them was at Morag’s. She drove into the village and let herself in the back door to find Sam and Jamie at the table tucking into massive cooked breakfasts. They both stood as she entered, Jamie calling through to the post office for his mum and Sam giving Zoe a hug.
‘How do you feel now Rory’s more famous than Brad?’
Zoe disengaged from Sam with a wry grin. ‘That’ll never happen.’
Morag bustled in and put her pinny on. ‘Ma wee girl. You look like you need feeding up. Cooked breakfast?’
‘Thanks, Morag, that would be amazing. It’s been an awful night.’
‘Well, let’s get some food in you, then you can tell us all about it. Jamie, ring your sister and get her over. I’m sure whatever Zoe has to say she won’t want to miss. Oh, and ask her if she wants feeding too.’
Jamie rang Fiona, and Sam sat Zoe down, putting her mug of tea in front of her. ‘Drink it, I’ll make myself another one, then you can tell us what it’s like living with the Hulk’s angrier younger brother.’
‘Och, leave her alone,’ chided Morag. ‘It’s all a bit of fuss about nothing. Get some breakfast inside you then I’ll bring the papers through.’
By the time Morag had fried slices of black pudding, bacon and eggs, Fiona arrived with Liam. They both tucked in, Liam in his highchair being fed by Morag. When Zoe was halfway through and feeling more human, she turned to Sam and Jamie. ‘I know you probably don’t want to think about it, but how’s your prep for the big concert tonight?’
Sam and Jamie exchanged a look. ‘It’ll be fine,’ said Sam breezily. ‘Grumpy guts here just needs to stop getting his knickers in a twist.’
Jamie rolled his eyes. ‘Easy for you to say. You’re used to fannying around in front of people. I’m not.’
‘Fannying around? Acting is a hard job. All you do is sit around having tea breaks and occasionally electrocuting yourself.’
‘It happened once,’ he replied defensively. ‘And I wish I’d never told you now.’
‘Shush the pair of you,’ scolded Morag. ‘It’s going to be amazing. You just need to eat enough now to last the day and have a wee run through for us in a bit. Right now, we need to focus on Zoe. Hang on a sec.’
She left the kitchen and returned shortly after with a pile of the morning’s papers, putting them down in front of Zoe.
‘Oh my god,’ Zoe mouthed as she saw the headlines and pictures of Rory, Kirsten and Brad on the front covers. It was far worse than she’d imagined. The editors had died and gone to tabloid heaven. Not only did they use the photos from the castle’s website, but also ones that must have been taken by theTatlerphotographer. There was a photo of Rory with the quote: ‘My ideal woman has curly red hair and is full of fire’. Then there were stills from the video, showing Rory, seemingly with superhuman strength, lifting Brad up in the air and chucking him into the loch, then striding up the hill with Zoe.
‘I didn’t know wee Brad had rubbed Rory up so much the wrong way,’ fretted Morag.
Zoe sighed. ‘Rory went mental because he’d just found out Brad’s been… er, Brad is…’
Everyone around the table leaned in closer.
‘Brad’s beenwhatexactly?’ asked Sam, her voice rising as if watching her ticket to Hollywood blowing away.
Zoe blushed. ‘He is, erm, in a relationship with Barbara,’ she mumbled.
‘What kind of relationship?’ demanded Sam.
Zoe bent her head. ‘A, erm, sexual one.’
