Chapter 31 #2
‘How come you’re full of the joys of Spring this morning?’ I ask Jez, as I’m sure he had as much to drink as I did.
‘I started drinking water after we had that Schnapps. Can’t be doing with hangovers at our age.’ Jez confesses with a wry grin.
‘Sensible. I feel awful. Wish I’d done the same.’ I say with a groan as I rinse the rest of my coffee.
‘I’ll fix you some breakfast. How about scrambled eggs with smoked salmon on sourdough? That should do the trick.’ Jez happily suggests with a smile.
‘Sounds perfect, if you’re making it.’ I say, returning his smile.
Five minutes later we’re tucking in to our relatively healthy breakfast and Jez thoughtfully tops up my coffee. I sit back in my seat and finish up my second cup of coffee and almost feel ready for the day.
‘I’d best get going soon.’ I say, getting up from the table.
‘Before you do, you might want to see this.’ Jez says, passing his phone over to me.
It’s the website for The Daily Mail in the Showbiz section.
Callum Baker, ex-husband of Virginia Baker, formerly Ginny Weathers and childhood friend of Evie Del Rio has released some more explosive photos from Ed Nash and Evie Del Rio’s scandalous past!
I frown and click on it to read it, not quite believing what I’m seeing.
Callum, the shitty ex himself, has sold another story to a newspaper.
I read through Callum’s outrageous lies about how Virginia had met up with me recently and that we knew all along where and who Evie is.
My anger increases with every word, my hands shaking as I struggle to scroll down the page.
He’s topped everything off by somehow getting hold of some more of Virginia’s old Polaroids and these are ones that I haven’t seen.
There’s one I really don’t need people to see: me and Evie and Virginia and Jamie back at my house after Virginia’s party.
We all look extremely drunk, and Uncle Paul is in the background, taking a puff from a huge spliff.
God knows how Virginia is going to take this latest bombshell being revealed by her ex-husband, let alone Evie.
There are many, many lows people can reach.
Selling a fake story on the mother of your child is surely right down there – but if I stop and think about things maybe I’m no different to Callum Baker, quite happy to sell music and do interviews off the back of my ex-girlfriend who may just be the mother of my unknown child.
Things with Evie would probably never have worked out.
We’ve been apart for a lifetime, and I have no idea what she’s like now.
She’s made her life without me, and I really should have respected that, but I still need to know if she had our baby.
At one time, we all thought that Paul was so cool.
My mother had been right all along. He’s a complete waster who ingratiated himself into my group of friends, manipulating us all for his own gain.
The paper has named him in the photo, so it won’t be too long before they’re knocking on his door for his side of the story.
Jez lets me process that I’ve just read.
‘You ok?’ He finally asks. I nod as I try to take in what Callum has said.
‘Don’t worry too much. Toby’s dealing with the press.
There's a message to all of us, instructing us not to comment on this story. To be honest, any publicity in his eyes is good publicity for the tour. By remaining silent, it will all die down.’ Jez says calmly.
‘Get yourself together and I’ll drive you home. ’
We drive back in companionable silence as only lifelong friends can.
Back at my flat, the photographers are back but have been forced to move further down the road by Sid, but their cameras click and flash at us as Jez drives towards the car park.
He parks up, and Sid’s waiting for me, eager to talk.
‘They’re a ferocious lot out there today, aren’t they? People shouldn’t believe everything they read in the press, you know. Well, I don’t anyway. Today’s news is tomorrow’s fish and chips paper.’ Sid advises me.
‘Thanks, Sid. I really do appreciate all your help. You’re a lifesaver. You remember my mate Jez, don’t you?’
Sid and Jez nod at each other and Sid calls the lift for us.
Back in the sanctuary of my flat, I take a shower and then Jez and I sit out on one of the balconies, catching up on the headlines. Social media is awash with comments about Callum’s latest revelations:
X is particularly vocal:
@EdNash deserves everything he gets @CallumBaker is just giving him a taste of his own medicine! #TeamEvie
@EdNash deserves to be happy. He also deserves to know whether he has a child #UsedToBe
There’s no point in reading any more. It’s all out there now.
There’s a message from Toby on WhatsApp, just to me this time: Hey, Ed.
Great publicity for the tour with the headlines this morning!
I couldn’t have organised anything better myself.
Just remember not to make any comments to the press. See you next week for rehearsals.
It’s all about the headlines with Toby. Always has been and always will be.