Page 42 of Forever Finn

“That piece of art house crap won six academy awards,” I snap. “You had no right to make that decision for me.”

“That’s what you pay me for,” Simon replies coolly. “To manage your career, to clean up your messes, and to keep you out of the papers and out of trouble, only you fucked up this time. That big blonde fairy you’ve been banging never signed a non-disclosure, so we’ve got nothing to keep him from going to the press.”

“Stop talking about him like that,” I growl angrily. “Wyatt’s not like that.”

“Still, we need to make a pre-emptive move,” Simon says calmly. “I’ve arranged a press conference. You two will appear together showing a united front and telling the world how in love you are, and how shocked and appalled you are at the pictures and rumours regarding Finn’s sexuality.”

“Are you high?” Sky snaps. “Firstly, you’re not my manager, and I don’t appreciate you ordering me around. Secondly, how exactly are we supposed to deny photographic evidence?”

“Finn’s, hair is longer, and he’d grown in a beard, the pictures were far enough away that we can spin it.”

“Spin it?” I swallow uncomfortably as a cold feeling unfurls in my belly.

“It’s simple,” Simon continues blithely. “We tell them you took some time out to visit an old friend in Cornwall. This Wyatt person developed a fixation with you, and when you turned him down, he picked up a ringer in a club and staged that little scene on the balcony before photoshopping the pictures and leaking them as revenge.”

My mouth falls open, and I seriously can’t believe what I’m actually hearing.

“Simon.” Sky blinks in shock. “That’s despicable even for you.”

“What?” He shrugs. “They can’t prove anything, and it’s not like he can be charged with anything.”

“But it would ruin his life. You know how vicious fans can be,” I breathe out in shock.

“You should have thought about that before you fucked him without an NDA,” Simon says mildly, picking a piece of imaginary lint from his suit jacket. “Next time, just use a whore and have done with it.”

“You son of a bitch,” Skylar hisses, and I grab hold of her when she takes a step toward him.

“The conference is at 7pm,” Simon’s tells us calmly. “I suggest you two take the time to get your stories straightened out unless you want the public to find out the pair of you have been lying to them for years.”

Skylar bares her teeth at him as my arms tighten around her, holding her in place.

“We’ll be there,” I tell him flatly.

Seemingly satisfied, he throws Sky a look of distaste before turning and heading out the door, leaving us once again alone in my hotel room.

“What the fuck, Finn?” She breaks out of my arms and swings around to face me. “You just stood there and didn’t say anything? Are you seriously just going to roll over and do what he wants again?”

“No,” I say calmly as a plan starts forming in my mind.

“What?” She blinks.

“Oh, Simon’s going to get his press conference alright.” My mouth curves slowly. “Just not the one he’s expecting.”

17

I’m dragging my feet I know I am. I’m supposed to be in work for a few hours this afternoon, but I can’t seem to find my motivation, maybe I’m coming down with something or maybe that something’s name is Finn, and I’m an idiot.

I wish I could shake this feeling and go back to the way things were before he arrived in the bay. Still, there’s nothing I can do about it now. He’s gone, and I don’t have a clue where he is. Besides, what the hell would I say to him?Hey, by the way, I fell in love with you by accident. Wanna give up your rich and glamorous lifestyle in L.A to come and live in my little rental in the bay?

I suppose the only thing I’ve got going for me at the moment is the absolute loyalty of the residents of the bay. No one’s talking, so the press still haven’t managed to track me down. They’ve all closed ranks to protect me and Finn. It’s really touching actually. I haven’t even been here that long, and yet I’ve been fully accepted into their little community.

Of course, that doesn’t mean it’s been plain sailing for me either. I had to move out of my place when reporters started sniffing a little too close. Which is why at the moment, I’m holed up at Jesse and Deacon’s place, and I haven’t been into work for days.

I drain the last of my coffee and rinse out my mug, setting it in the sink. A moment later, I hear the front door open and close and several low-voiced murmurs.

“Wyatt,” Jesse’s voice yells out. “Can you come here for a moment.”

Sighing in resignation, I trail through the kitchen across the hallway and into the living room and stop short when I come face to face with not only Jesse and Deacon, and their gorgeous silver-grey pit-bull puppy, Peanut, but also Nat, Beck, and Colin.