‘No.’ Sam’s answer was short and sweet. He didn’t feel up to going through the details once again, he was too exhausted for that. Will had known him for long enough not to bother persisting, Sam would open up when he was ready.
The two of them had met on their first day at RADA. Sam had walked in nervously, feeling that he’d only been given a place on the acting course because of his father’s influence. Out of his comfort zone, he’d hung around at the back of the class, an onlooker in a room full of extroverts. Their instructor had asked them to be flightless birds, staring with envy at their airborne counterparts.
‘Well this is a load of old bollocks.’ A deep voice had come from Sam’s left. ‘I thought we’d have to be weeping willows. I’ve been practising the arm movements all week.’
Since that morning in the drama theatre, the two had become fast friends, climbing through the ranks together, until in their final year they were fighting each other for all the leading roles. When it came to their showpiece play, they were both surrounded by admirers, though it was always Will who was tipped for the top. It had been a surprise to both of them that Sam had been the first to make it.
‘Your, ah, folks called earlier.’ Will looked hesitant when he said it. More than most, he was aware of Sam’s fractured relationship with Foster. ‘They left a message on the voicemail.’
The mention of his parents was enough to make Sam feel nauseous. Fuck Charles and Serena Sloane. The two of them were nothing more than snakes in the grass.
‘Them and a hundred others.’ Sam looked at the landline once again. ‘It doesn’t matter, anyway, it’s not like I ever return Foster’s calls.’
‘It wasn’t your dad. It was your mum. And Izzy called later, too.’
Sam groaned. His sisters idolised him, and he adored them right back. The last thing he wanted was for them to hear anything Serena Sloane had to say. It would tear the family apart.
‘I can’t talk to them, not right now. I need to get my head straight somehow. I can’t even hear myself think here, surrounded by the damn paparazzi. I only have to leave the gates to find myself being stalked.’
Will grimaced. ‘Yeah, the bloodsuckers were crowded around the gate when I came in. A few of them started shouting questions at me.’
‘What did you say?’ Sam leaned forward. ‘Did you answer them?’ His eyes shifted to his friend.
‘Hell no. You know I wouldn’t say anything. And anyway, it’s not as if there’s much to tell them. You went out with her a few times, hooked up, and that was it.’
‘That’s not what she’s saying. Did you know they’re all calling me “The Jackhammer”? They’ve made me out to be as kinky as fuck.’ He couldn’t mention the other stuff. It was personal, and painful as hell.
Will laughed, shaking his head. ‘Oh man, it could be so much worse. What if she’d said you were a bad lay?’
But Sam wasn’t smiling. ‘I just wish she’d shut the hell up.’
‘Well that’s not going to happen, not while she’s getting her fifteen
minutes of fame. So you’re going to have to learn to live with it, or go and hide under a rock somewhere. This is Hollywood, man, and you’re famous. It’s just how it works.’
Sam couldn’t help but hear an echo of his ex-agent in Will’s words.
‘A rock to hide under sounds good right about now.’
‘There isn’t a rock in the world that you can hide behind, man. As far as the paparazzi are concerned, the Oscarnominated Sam Carlton is fair game.’
Sam rubbed his face with the palm of his hand. ‘I hate this damned town. Whatever happened to the place where dreams are made? It’s a nightmare.’
‘You’re exaggerating. And anyway, we both know how this industry works. We sold our soul to the devil for a piece of fame.’ Will grinned. ‘And it’s worth it, isn’t it?’
‘I don’t know if it is any more,’ Sam said. ‘All I know is I can’t sit around here while people are reading all this crap about me. I need to get out of town for a while.’
‘But where would you go?’ Will frowned. ‘The paps will just follow you. If you’re thinking of going back to London, it’s just as bad there.’
Sam shuddered. ‘No, I’m definitely not going to London. But I could go to Italy,’ he said, mulling the thought over in his head. ‘To Varenna, I mean. The villa there is pretty much isolated from everything.’
Will raised his eyebrows. During their time at RADA he’d spent his summers with Sam’s family at Villa Palladino. Lazy days hanging out by the pool, evenings wandering into the village for good food and wine. ‘It’s an option, I guess. But isn’t your family there? I thought you were trying to avoid them.’
Sam shook his head. ‘Not this year. Foster’s directing a show in Paris, and Mom and the girls are spending the summer there with him. They’ve left the villa in the care of Sandro and Gabi, and we both know they’d leave me alone.’
Will didn’t look convinced. ‘What the hell will you do there? Lake Como is notorious for having celebrities, the paps will get you as soon as you leave the gates.’
‘Then I won’t leave the gates,’ Sam told him. ‘Gabi and Sandro will do the shopping, and I can get my head straight in the peace and quiet. I’ll come back here when I’m ready.’ It was all starting to take shape in his mind. A few weeks at the villa and he’d be yesterday’s news.