Page 20 of Thick as Thieves
“You were never knackered at nineteen, Gabe,” Marcus reminds him. “Neither are they.”
We’re clapping along with the music and the rest of the crowd, when Tim comes over. “Fucking amazing,” he says. “Thank god you’re such an idiot, Marcus, otherwise someone else would have found them.”
We all grin at the men on the stage, thinking back to that. We’re so proud of them all, and I just hope we can keep them all safe. No matter what else happens, I know I’ll give my last breath trying.
The festivals rollon as per usual. Different countries, different women. Levi has brought out the two friends of Becky’s who were at the New Years party in LA. Becky’s calls have definitely lessened, so maybe Levi’s tactics have finally gotten through. I have zero interest, and can see the guys all exchanging glances as I bat off the women’s obvious advances. It’s fucking depressing. The vacuous nature of it all. I think I might be having a pre midlife crisis.
At the beginning of February, Marcus finally talks Evie into coming out with the twins. We’re down in Brazil, as it coincides with Carnival season, lots going on. Rio is alive with colour and music.
James and Bucky are with us, so she loads up the kids and comes out. Brazil is a long flight, but is not far behind in terms of time, so the jetlag shouldn’t play havoc with the babies.
Marcus is like a man possessed. His smile could light up Rio, his energy boosting any electricity grid, he’s unrestrictedly buzzing they’re here. He takes the twins, with James arguing over which one to hold, around the hotel, showing them off to anyone who looks their way.
Evie has Betty the nanny with her, and is prepping the suite for the kids. She’s laughing, saying they’re more demanding than either me or Kell. We’re both in the living area, the nanny is putting clothes away, so I take the opportunity to spend a little time with her.
“Are you tired, Kitten? Do you need a nap before dinner?” I ask gently. It’s not quite dinner time and we’ve booked a restaurant the babies can come to. I pull her into me and we’re stood together. Holding her close, her rose and summer rain scent blanks out all thought, my total focus is her. She drops her head onto my shoulder.
“We missed you at Christmas,” she says quietly. “All of us. It’s not the same if you’re not there, but I understand why you didn’t come.” She gifts me a small, apologetic smile. Her face always shows me what she thinks. I’ve gotten so used to reading it. Memories from years ago, all that history helps me now.
“Do you?” I look down at her, pushing her hair away from her face. “Do you know why I never came?”
Looking up at me with clear, beautiful, grey eyes, she nods. Opening her mouth to tell me, she closes it quickly when we hear a throat being cleared and turn to see the nanny staring at us from the bedroom door.
“All done?” Evie asks her, but she doesn’t move away from me. I don’t let her go either.
“Yes, all away. I’ll just go to my room and wait for them to come back.” She drops her eyes and heads down the hallway.
Evie turns her eyes to me. “That’ll get reported back.” She rolls her eyes.
“She spying on you, Kitten?” I make light of the situation. Shuttering my gaze as normal.
“I think so, but no one else seems to. Jonno says she’s not reporting to anyone, so…” She shrugs. “Just a feeling I get.”
The door bangs open and Marcus walks in with Lochi. I know he sees me holding his wife, but he comes towards us with a smile. He kisses Evie and then goes to kiss me on the cheek as a joke, but pushes the baby at me instead.
“Take him, he weighs a tonne. Is it still just milk they’re getting? Because they’re heavy weights.”
“You’re such a wimp, Dad,” jokes Bucky, coming up behind him with Sorley in his arms. I feel Evie stiffen as she looks at him, her eyes burning into his. He looks at her, not a word is said, but she moves towards him.
“James, take the baby,” she instructs, not taking her eyes off Bucky. Sorley is dutifully handed over, but Bucky remains transfixed. He can’t move. Evie stands in front of him, and when she opens her arms to him, he falls into her, his knees buckling, and starts to fucking cry.
We move as one towards the door to give them some privacy. They’re utterly oblivious, her grown son in her arms. James is looking over-emotional as I push him and Marcus with the babies into a smaller sitting room.
“What the fuck is going on?” I look at James. “Did you know he was that bad?” I hiss at him, trying to be quiet.
James nods. “I think that’s also what’s brought Mum out. He was on FaceTime the other day and she got a good look at him. He’s hidden from her since Christmas. He knew she’d see through him.”
“What is it? Drugs, women, drink? What?” I ask him, trying to get a handle on this to help the boy.
“All of them. He had some model from one of his shoots in the UK, she was no good for him, though. Gave him a tonne of drugs all the time. I told him to get rid, but,” he shrugs his shoulders. “He ended it before Christmas and was better after being in Devon for a bit. But as soon as we come back out again…” His shoulders are up around his ears. A helpless shrug. “It’s fucking everywhere. I’ve tried to stop it before the show, but Nicci is hard work as well. His fucking brother is dealing.” James’s face shows his stress, worry, and disgust.
“Why haven’t you told the tour manager, Nev? He’d help sort it,” Marcus says to him, watching his son closely, checking out every nuance of James.
James laughs out sarcastically. “Nev? He’s part of the problem. Pushing at Bucky all the time to go out, to be wilder and wilder. He’s fucking nuts at the best of times. But it’s headlines, good or bad.” He shakes his head. “And Bucky is hardly inconspicuous at any time of day. Nev also has that bitch Debs on ‘social media’”—he puts air quotes sarcastically around the words—“documenting it all and posting shit.” James’s voice has gone up a decibel now. “Surely you’ve seen some of the stuff. They’re dripping it out, and Bucky gets more upset as he knows it’s our team doing it.” James scrubs his hand down his face. “I spoke to Jonno about it, but I’ll sort it out myself if they don’t stop.”
We look at each other. We know the drill. Bad boys sell, it’s just human nature.
“You should have said earlier,” I tell him. “We would have sorted it before Christmas.”
