Page 148 of Fe
Ripley pulled the covers over them. Fen was trembling, but not because he was cold.
It was bad. The headline wasJack’s Other Son.There was a picture of Fen taken by Scott at a BBQ at his parents’ house. Fen had fallen over and the plate of food he’d been carrying had spilled on his shirt and trousers. The crutch wasn’t in the shot. Fen remembered Scott laughing. He’d not even helped Fen up. By the time his mum had come outside, Fen was on his feet. He looked drunk in the picture though he hadn’t been. But the paper had been quick to suggest he was.
Fen struggled to take in the words.Family celebration…habit of drinking too much…sacked for theft…obsessed by his father…all he could talk about…money…The words swam in front of Fen’s eyes. He wasn’t the only one under attack. His mum had been called out too.Desperate fan who’d do anything to get her film star crush… One-off encounter in a club toilet…Fen moaned when he read that. It wasn’t what his mum had told him.
The paper went on to talk about Jack Miller.Jack is happily married to his wife Charlotte. They live with their three children Judd, Alexa and Helena. Jack confesses to being a wild boy in his youth but Charlotte is the only woman he’s ever loved.There were pictures of his father and his family, all loved up, looking tanned, happy and rich.
“How the fuck do the press know you’re here?”
Fen thought about it. “Alistair and my mum drove here in one of the company vehicles. He’d have put the address into the satnav. Scott could have found it.”
“Shit,” Ripley hissed.
“You’re not allowed to sayshit. You have to sayDon’t worry. Everything’s going to be fine.”
When Ripley opened his mouth, Fen put his finger over his lips. “Don’t. It’s all right. I know it won’t be fine.”
Ripley kissed his finger and moved it away. “We don’t feed the bears.”
Fen liked that he saidwebut Ripley needed to stay out of this. Only how, he had no idea.
“It’ll blow over,” Ripley said.
Fen couldn’t let himself believe it would. He burrowed into Ripley. He didn’t want Scott to get away with lying about him, but he knew if he said anything, he might make the situation worse. He felt Ripley’s arms wrap around him, muttering softly and stress took Fen into darkness.
When he woke, Ripley was still beside him, working on his laptop.
“Did I imagine all that?” Fen whispered.
“Sadly not.”
“Oh shit.”
“They’ve been banging on the door most of the day, shoving notes through the letterbox. Offering you increasing amounts of money.”
“Money?” Fen groaned. “Why is this even news?”
“Because there isn’t any other news and Jack Miller is a media darling. He could do no wrong, until now. I think we can expect more articles.”
“What else is there left to say?”
“The press will find something. They usually do.”
“I’m sorry,” Fen blurted.
“What do you have to be sorry about?”
“Dragging you into this.”
Ripley set his laptop aside. “You’ve dragged me into nothing. I’m glad you told me who your father was. You trusted me and now you have to trust me again. I’ve been in touch with Miller’s publicist. She wants to talk to you.”
“Not my father?”
“No.”
Of course he doesn’t want to speak to me. Why would he? I was stupid to think he might.
“Let’s do it now,” Fen mumbled.
