Page 50 of Mercury Rising

Martin might not be a journalist, but he still swam in the same toxic waters. If that was the angle they were after, they could fuck right off.

“I have a tag, Martin,” Mercury replied. “I’m safe in my mother’s house each evening. I didn’t realise you were a fiction writer.”

“I’m not.”

“Well, that’s good to know. Perhaps we should all stay in our lanes and we’ll get along fine. Jeannie spoke highly of you. I’d hate her to change her opinion. If you hear these rumours again, you can tell them that I’m doing what is expected of me. Nothing more. Nothing less.”

Martin held his hands up. “I was only joking, mate.”

“I understand that,” Mercury replied. “I wasn’t though. Your gossip could fuck things right up. Do you understand?”

Without waiting for a reply, he stalked out of the room. He absolutely would talk to Jeannie about this man.

Three hours later and Martin was almost at breaking point. Mercury had worked him tirelessly. They had done shots in the art room, the cinema room, the main room, the kitchen and in the garden.

“Gosh, it’s warm, isn’t it?” Martin said. The sweat soaked through his T-shirt.

“Is it?” Mercury replied.

Martin zipped up his bag. “They’re wonderful kids,” he said. “Mercury, I’m sorry for what I said. Spending time here, I can understand why you’re so involved. I shouldn’t have made light of it.”

Mercury clapped him on the shoulder. “Don’t worry. Jeannie said she fancied doing a shoot with me soon. She’s had this crazy idea of us dressing up as celebrity couples. She’s got a perfumeout and soon I’ll be free to hit the city at night. Would you be interested?”

“Too bloody right I would.”

“Great. I’ll have her call you.”

Martin picked up the huge bag again and allowed Mercury to take him to the door. As he stepped out onto the garden path, he stopped.

“I really wish you luck, you know.”

“Thank you.”

Mercury watched him walk off to his car. It was almost like Mercury’s old life had come to visit his new one for the day. Yet, the fact that he was the subject of idle chitchat bothered him. Why did people have to find bad in everything?

He closed the door and wandered into the main room. Nick sat on his own on the sofa.

“Where is everyone?”

“Cath’s taken them to the park to get rid of some of that energy. Their parents won’t thank us for returning them in the state they’re in at the moment. We might as well have filled them with fizzy orange pop. I haven’t seen Eddie this fired up ever.”

Mercury leant against the doorframe. “It’s been a good afternoon, hasn’t it?”

“The best,” Nick replied. “Fancy coming over here? There’s no one else around.”

But Martin’s words were still reverberating around Mercury’s head. If he and Nick became an item, is that what everyone would think? That Mercury was saving the house simply to get his leg over?

“Nick. You were right. It’s not professional.”

Nick’s face dropped. “Oh…oh I see. Shit, yeah, I did. No, you’re right.”

He got up. Mercury desperately wanted to go to him.

“Nick…”

“I’d better get on with some things. With all this attention, my inbox is bursting at the seams.”

He went into the office where he closed the door. Mercury could kick himself. Why did everything happen at once?