Chapter 22 #2
“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.”
“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 watched Medway Boys at 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.”
Oh God.
“He is. Let’s start again, you and I. I’m sorry for what’s gone before. But hurt my boy and you’ll see how awesome I can be. Understand?”
“Ditto,” Newt snapped.
River hadn’t expected Newt to open the door so quickly. It was too late to scuttle back to the bed, so he just smiled.
“Bye, River,” Max said. “I’ll be in touch. I set up your phone. It’s good to go.”
“Fuck off,” River called.
“You’re welcome.” Max headed down the stairs.
Newt closed the bedroom door and turned to River.
“I love you,” River blurted. His heart sparked as he said the words.
“You’re the one who’s awesome. You’ve been through so much, dealt with…
un…imaginable sadness. You were b…betrayed by those who should have loved you…
beyond words, but…you haven’t turned in on yourself, closed yourself off…
for fear of being hurt again. You’re strong and brave and loyal and perfect. I want to make your dreams come true.”
Newt pressed his lips together and blinked a lot but River could see his eyes were brimming with tears.
River stepped into his arms. “Life is an…adventure. And I want to go on that adventure with you…wherever it takes us. And if we don’t always get…
what we want, I know you’ll stand with me…
and we can deal with things together. I don’t care how you came to be with me, I only care that you’re here with me now.
Not because your su…suffering isn’t rel…
evant. It is. But it’s not you. Not now.
I know…that when all else fails, you’ll be there beside me and I love you. I love you so much.”
Newt caught hold of River’s face and held his cheeks in his hands. “Show me how much.”
River laughed. “You’re not going to say it back?”
“I could but I think I’ll make you wait.” Newt peeled off his T-shirt and boxers. “Shower? Oh, are you allowed to get that dressing wet?”
“I have another.”
“Good. Come on. Don’t forget to bring your erection.”
River chuckled as he stripped off his boxers, then followed Newt to the bathroom.
~~~
He loves me. The words nestled in Newt’s heart. He loves me! He turned on the water and stepped into the shower with River on his heels.
“Would you love me to wash you?” River asked.
Newt smiled. He guessed River’s ploy. “That would be…very acceptable.”
River mock-growled and filled his palm with shower gel.
He rubbed his hands together and when they were full of foam, he began to wash Newt, starting with his fingers.
He carefully soaped each one, moaning dramatically as he did it, continued onto Newt’s hand, rubbing his thumbs over his palms while increasing the sound of his moans, then worked his way up his arms to his shoulders, while constantly staring into Newt’s eyes.
“You’re going to run out of breath soon, moaning like that,” Newt said.
“You’re right. I p…peaked too soon. I’ll go slower. You’re very…dirty. This will take ages.”
He used both hands to rub Newt’s cheeks, then caressed his throat, squeezing gently and leaning in for a quick kiss. Newt’s chest came in for the same careful treatment. Newt hissed when River tweaked his nipples, but River didn’t touch his cock on the way down to his legs.
“You missed a bit,” Newt said.
“Only a very small bit.”
Newt laughed.
River knelt down to wash Newt’s feet, and Newt was relieved to have the wall to lean back against. River washed his calves, his knees, his thighs but continued to ignore the cock straining right in front of his face.
“Tell me how lovely is that!” River said.
“Pretty good.”
Which earned him a glare.
“Turn,” River ordered.