Emerald Sky by David Clarkson Page B

many times before. This man was one of the most famous sportsmen in the
country. He was also in a very high profile marriage with a beautiful young pop
starlet who had briefly put her career on hold in order to bring up their
newborn son. Alex’s heart was now actively trying to tear itself from her
chest.
    ‘Please tell me you’re kidding. I didn’t
even know he’s gay.’
    ‘Nor did I before last night. Believe me,
it was a big surprise for me too!’
    She slapped him across the face, a shock
to her as much to him. It was only the second time in her life she had resorted
to physical violence. The first had been when she was being threatened by a psychopath.
    ‘No jokes,’ she shouted at him. ‘Just
tell me what happened and who else knows about this.’
    He put his cup down and rubbed his face
where her palm had struck.
    ‘It’s my life that’s over, not yours.’
    ‘I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have done that,
but this does affect me – more than you could ever know. Now tell me what
happened and why it led to you turning up at my door in a police car.’
    He told her the story. With each word she
knew there would be no turning back.
    He had met the gentleman in question in a
popular (though little known outside of the gay community) club on the
outskirts of St Kilda. One thing led to another and they agreed to go back to
Adam’s hotel room. Then the other guy got cold feet. He was afraid about
risking exposure in so public a place as a hotel in the centre of town.
Instead, they decided to head down to the beach. The player owned a beach hut
and he convinced Adam it would be a better place for them to do the deed.
    When they got to the hut, it did not take
them long to get down to what they had come for. They tore at each other’s
clothes, eager to gain access to the willing bodies underneath. What they did
not realise was that they were not alone. Somebody in the club had tipped off a
paparazzo. This photographer followed them down to the beach. A burst of
pictures had been taken before either of the clandestine lovers even figured
out what was happening.
    The man with the most to lose was the
first to react. Stark naked, he charged out of the hut and leapt at the
photographer in an attempt to get the camera. It was all to no avail, as in
this digital age all the photos were instantly uploaded to the news desk before
a standard Polaroid would have had time to dry. They were in the system and
nothing would be able to stop them from coming out.
    Unable to contain his rage, the sportsman
continued to assault the photographer even after the camera was smashed into a
hundred pieces. A passing police patrol witnessed the event and promptly
arrested the sportsman and also took in Adam as a witness. The chaperone home
was merely precautionary; for his protection should a gathering of reporters be
waiting at his house. That was also the reason for him being dropped at Alex’s
place rather than his own.
    ‘You idiot!’ she screamed. ‘How could you
be so careless? Any moment now the media from all over the state will be
mobbing us. Not just you either. As your girlfriend they’re going to want to
know what my feelings are on this.’
    She went to the bedroom and grabbed her
bag before continuing her rant.
    ‘Will she stand by him? Will she leave
him? Well, I’ll let you know the answer to both those questions right now
because there’s no way I’m having my face in the paper.’
    ‘What’re you saying?’
    ‘Isn’t it obvious? I’m leaving. I have no
choice. I can’t risk being found. This is a problem you’ll have to deal with on
your own.’
    ‘You can’t leave. We’re in this together.
Our arrangement benefits us both.’
    She shook her head with disbelief.
    ‘You don’t need this lie – you never
have. Being gay isn’t something we should hide. The reason you’re in trouble is
that you’re an arsehole. Do you really think this was about my sexuality?
Christ, I’d rather stand proud and let