Justin leaned back into the pillows with a sigh. "It seems you were right, then."
Tyler set the half-empty glass of water on the nightstand and sat back in his chair by his father's bedside.
"There's still one night for something to go wrong."
Amy came up behind him and slapped the back of his head.
"Shut up, you! Don't jinx it." She settled herself awkwardly on the side of the bed with only a little steadying from Tyler. "Knock on wood."
Obediently, Tyler knocked on the wood of the nightstand.
Amy smiled. "Besides, I saw the crowd outside. I've talked to some of the employees." Her eyes, a blue to match his, twinkled. "I've seen the papers. The White Room is the talk of the town."
Tyler gave her a smile, knowing she'd pry if she thought something was wrong. "It does seem to be going well."
She smoothed a hand over her distended belly. "See, Dad? All that money you spent on Tyler's schooling hasn't gone to waste."
Justin opened weary eyes and chuckled. "Thank God for that."
Tyler rolled his eyes, glad they'd decided not to mention all the money that had been spent on the White Room.
His sister reached out to brush his hair from his face, a move too much like what Luc had done earlier for Tyler's comfort. He sat back in his chair, out of her reach.
"You look happy." Impending motherhood made Amy far too attentive.
"I do?"
"Flushed. Excited."
He blinked. "Really?"
"Mmmm. You haven't been this excited about anything in years. Of course, it could have something to do with Heaven Sent."
He fiddled with the crease of his slacks. "Why would you think that?"
"Hel-lo. They're only your favorite band! I expected you to have talked our ears off about them already." She raised an eyebrow at him. "Especially since I heard through the grapevine that you've been playing video games with none other than Johnnie Heaven for the past two nights."
Tyler crossed his legs and his arms, pouting. "No one can keep a secret in this place."
Justin chuckled. "You've known that your entire life."
Tyler laughed. "Too true."
"So?" Amy blithely ignored their comments. "Spill. What's he like?"
Tyler stared into his sister's eyes. His lips parted, but he had no words that were suitable for present company. Part of him wanted to tell them what was happening, wanted to hear their advice on how to handle the situation. But he couldn't bring himself to tell them that he just might be gay. Or, at the very least, bisexual. Especially when there seemed to be only one object of his current obsession and that object would be gone in another two days.
He paused too long.
Justin raised his head and opened his eyes, concern lacing his wrinkled brow.
Amy's grin faded to one of concern. "Tyler --" she started, interrupted by the sound of his phone.
Tyler dug into his pocket. He didn't recognize the number, but it was a convenient way out of the current conversation. He flipped it open. "Hello?"
"Are you really with your dad?" It was Johnnie.
Tyler jumped. Then cursed because he'd jumped. Then cursed because he'd cursed. He shot a guilty look at Amy and his father.
Their looks of concern had grown at the sight of his obvious agitation.
"Yes," he said into the phone, hardly aware that he was curling up in his chair.
"I'll make it quick, then. Come play with me tonight." The heat in Johnnie's voice made the double meaning obvious.
"I-I don't think I can."
"Why not? Don't tell me you have work to do."
"I do."
"Not all night."
Frowning, Tyler stood. He mumbled an "excuse me" to his family and scurried into the next room. "How do you know that?"
"What's got your panties in a wad?"
"I don't ... I mean, I just ..."
Johnnie purred. "I want to see you."
"I --"
"If you don't come, I'll scour this hotel for your room."
"You wouldn't!"
"Oh, wouldn't I? Do you think your employees would be helpful?"
"Don't you dare!" He could just imagine the rumors that would fly if Johnnie Heaven was asking around for the location of his rooms.
"If the mountain won't come to Mohammad ..."
Ridiculous images of just how mountainous Johnnie was momentarily blinded Tyler. "Shit. Fine. I'll come."
"Oh, yes. You will. Many times, if I have any say in the matter."
Tyler pressed his back against the wall beside the window, one arm curled tightly around his ribs and the other propped on it with the phone to his ear. His heart was racing, his breathing heavy. "Stop that."
Johnnie chuckled. "Only for now. When should I expect you?
"I have to give you a time?"
"I have to know when to go out looking for you if you don't show up."
Tyler snarled, glancing toward the bedroom door. Neither Amy nor Justin could see him, and thankfully, Amy hadn't followed him. "Nine."
"Seven."
"Eight."
"Fine. I'll order dinner."
"Wait!"
"See you later, blondie." The phone line went dead.
Tyler glared at the phone and seriously considered calling back, but he didn't know if Johnnie had called from his cell or from another line. If the latter, someone else might pick up, and he didn't want to be heard floundering again.
He thumped his head back against the wall with a sigh. What did that man do to him?!
Tyler stepped back into his father's bedroom and stopped at the blatant looks of alarm pointed at him from the faces of his two closest living relatives.
"Who was that?" Amy asked.
Tyler glanced at his phone as if it would help him come up with a suitable answer. Belatedly, he realized he could have told them the truth about the caller's identity and used the playing video games as the reason, but he'd stalled too long now. "Uh ..."
"Tyler, is anything wrong?"
He looked at his father. Even if his body was ailing, there was nothing wrong with Justin's sharp mind.
Yeah, Dad. Your son's got the hots for a man. "No, Dad."
"Who was on the phone?" Amy asked.
Tyler tucked his phone into his pocket and smiled at them. "No one."
"Tyler --"
"Drop it, Amy."
"Tyler, are you in trouble?"
Only if you call getting ass-fuxked trouble. "No. It's fine. I promise."
