Devoted: The Blackwell Lessons Part 12

Whoa.

Baz really is big in real life.

He's the same height as Marc, but his bulky muscles make him much wider. He wears a tight, grey vest and jogging bottoms. There are tattoos all over his body, including his thick neck.

His dark hair is closely shaven and his brown eyes roam the room, unsmiling and dangerous.

When Baz's eyes fall on Marc, he frowns. 'What's with the suit, James Bond? Where do you think you are the f.u.c.king Ritz or something?'

'Coming from a man wearing his pyjamas, I'll take that as a compliment,' Marc replies.

The two men eye each other sternly for a moment.

Then Baz bursts out laughing and slaps Marc on the shoulder.

'Good to see you mate.' Baz grabs Marc's hand and shakes it furiously. 'f.u.c.king h.e.l.l, it's been years hasn't it? f.u.c.king years.' He puts a hand to his mouth. 'Oops. Sorry about that, ladies. I should watch my language.'

'I'm Australian,' says Ruby. 'You don't need to watch your language around me. I've heard it all.'

'Still.' Baz reddens and scratches his neck. 'Ladies present and everything. Sorry.'

'It's been a long time,' says Marc.

'It certainly f-, ... I mean, yes it has. How are you doing Marky boy? You got married. You! Marc Blackwell married. I'd never have believed it. And this must be the lucky lady.' He turns to me. 'Sophia. Right?'

'Nice to meet you.' I hold out my hand to shake, but Baz kisses my fingers instead with a playful, 'Mwah! Mwah!'

'Listen,' says Baz, still holding my hand. 'Any friend of Marc's is a friend of mine. I'll look after you. All right? How about I take you two to dinner later?'

'Sophia may be tired later,' says Marc, a little too quickly.

'No, I'll be fine,' I say. 'We're only trying on clothes today.'

'Always listen to the lady,' says Baz, with a grin. 'That's what my mother taught me. What's your problem Blackwell? Are you trying to avoid me or something?'

'In some ways.'

Baz laughs. 'I'm trouble and you don't want trouble any more. Right?'

'Right.'

I frown as I watch Marc. He seems ... uncomfortable.

'Well don't worry. I promise the past will be kept in the past. I'll keep all your secrets. Hand on heart, hope to die, stick a sausage in my eye.'

'Secrets?' I ask Marc, raising an eyebrow.

'Baz always did have a way with words,' says Marc, frowning. 'I don't have secrets from you, Sophia. You know that.'

'Oh no?' Baz gives a wicked grin. 'Funny. Because I heard on the grapevine you're having a little family drama. Sophia knows all about it, does she?'

Marc grits his teeth. 'Sophia knows everything she needs to know. When the time is right-'

'I've heard that before.'

What the h.e.l.l is going on? I SO need to talk to Marc about this. But not here in front of everybody. Later.

'Baz, stop making trouble,' says Nadia. 'Listen I just got a message from Sigourney. Her mother isn't very well so she won't make it in this morning. We'll get started without her.'

Leo snorts. 'Is she still using that excuse? She used to-' He catches the look Nadia gives him and snaps his mouth closed.

'I hope her mum feels better soon,' says Ruby.

'Yes,' says Nadia, not meeting Ruby's eye. 'Okay!' She claps her hands. 'Let's get you trying on these outfits so we can see what works. We'll have fun, right?'

'Not my idea of fun,' says Baz.

'So let's get you done first, Baz,' says Nadia. 'Then you can go home. Leave us ladies to enjoy ourselves.'

'Nice idea,' says Baz. 'Marc, are you up for that? You and I leave the girls here and head to the pub? It'll be just like old times. We could hit the White Horse. Remember that place?'

'Far too well,' says Marc. 'I have no desire to revisit that part of my life.'

'Shame. That means I'll have to drink enough for both of us.'

Nadia turns serious eyes on Baz. 'Don't have a hangover tomorrow. We're shooting on location I don't want you all puffy eyed.'

'You know me Nadia. I'm a professional.'

'That's exactly right,' says Nadia. 'I do know you. So no big drinking sessions today. Okay?'

Baz sighs. 'When did you stop being fun and turn into my mother?'

'Around about the same time I started winning awards. Okay listen. Baz, I'll choose what you wear. You trust me, right?'

'I trust you with anything if it saves me poncing around all afternoon trying on costumes.'

'Go on, get lost. Go to the pub. Don't stay out too late and we'll see you tomorrow.'

'Agreed!' Baz slaps Marc on the back. 'Good to see you mate. Truly. It's been too long. We'll catch up later okay?'

Marc gives a little nod.

'Sophia!' Nadia shouts. 'Come. Come choose something. Here.' She wheels forward a rail of dresses. 'Take a look. What do you like?'

Straight away I notice a long, black gown with red laces all the way down the back.

'I love this one.'

'Ah ha! The witch's outfit.'

'Is it?' My hand drops from the soft fabric.

'You should try it on,' says Nadia. 'Let's see how that dress works on you. It could be a good contrast.'

'Shouldn't Sigourney get first refusal?' I say. 'If she's supposed to be the witch.'

'Well Sigourney isn't here,' says Nadia. 'If she wants first choice, she has to show up.'

'But she said her mum was-'

'She was bulls.h.i.+tting,' says Nadia. 'There was a film premiere in the West End last night. A friend of mine saw her there. c.o.ked up to the eyeb.a.l.l.s. She's hung-over and sleeping it off. Leo's right she needs a better excuse. But I'd rather she rest than drag herself here and wear herself out. Filming starts tomorrow. I don't want that beautiful face of hers all dried out and spotty.'

'Is she still doing c.o.ke?' Leo asks. 'h.e.l.l I thought she'd have grown out of that.' He turns to Marc. 'Did she do that stuff when she was with you?'

Do that stuff when she was with you?

I feel like I can't breathe.

What? WHAT?

I turn to Marc, my eyes searching his face.

He doesn't look at me.

What the h.e.l.l is going on?

24.

'Marc? 'I say stiffly. 'Leo asked you a question.'

'I heard,' says Marc, his voice equally cold. 'But I can't tell you about Sigourney's habits. I barely know the girl.'

Leo catches his eye and says, 'Oh. Sure. Yeah right. Sorry.'

'Marc? Did you and Sigourney ...?'

I can't finish that sentence. My stomach is churning and I feel like the tip of a knife is pressed against my heart.

'I told you,' says Marc. 'I barely know her.'

'So why did Leo ask you that?'

'Uh oh!' Baz says. 'The cat's out of the bag now, Marky Marc. The missus is getting jealous.'

'I'm warning you Baz.'

'Just trying to have a laugh-'

'I'm not laughing.'

The room has gone horribly silent.

Ruby and Nadia are both watching me, pitying looks on their faces.

'So what did Leo mean?' I say.

'It doesn't matter,' says Marc. 'We'll talk about it later.'

'I'm sick of waiting until later!' I snap. 'We'll talk about it now.'

'She's got b.a.l.l.s this one,' Baz remarks. 'Do you usually let her talk to you like that? Or do you keep her in line by-'

'Baz, be quiet,' Marc barks. 'Sophia come with me. Nadia, I hope you don't mind. Sophia and I need to talk privately for a moment.'

'Go ahead,' says Nadia.

Marc scoots me out the door and along the corridor. He opens a door marked 'Awaiting delivery: E1' and leads me inside.

There are furs and slave girl dresses hanging up, and a black leather sofa strewn with caveman clubs and animal horns.

Marc closes the door behind us.

'I'm not stupid,' I tell him. 'Leo didn't ask you that for no reason. You and Sigourney-'

'Sophia, you're the only girl I've ever loved. No one else matters. But for the record yes I slept with Sigourney Seymour.'

I feel like I've been punched in the stomach.

'You slept with a girl I'm going to be working with?'

And not just any girl. A supermodel.

I swallow. 'More than once?'

Marc doesn't meet my eye. 'Yes. More than once.'

'How many times?'

'Christ I wasn't keeping count. We weren't together long. I can barely remember her, to tell you the truth.'