Tyler sat next to him. "When things settled down, I got cleaned up and went to the Bear. It was late. Buddy said you hadn't shown. So, I came up here to find you. Everything was dark, no note,
nothing. I could tell you'd left in a hurry. I was worried, but some stuff was still here, so I knew you'd be back. Then I went home and did the only thing I could think to do."
"What was that?"
"I sent you an e-mail."
Alec closes his eyes. "Oh, my God. I didn't even think of e-mail. I never even unpacked my
laptop."
Tyler rubbed Alec's back. "Why would you? You were in crisis-mode. I'm the dummy."
"No, I am. I'm convinced. But that still doesn't explain allthis," he said, gesturing to the decorations. "Or Mac—how did you know about Mac? How did you know I'd be back tonight?"
Tyler said nothing, just looked at Alec, grinned mischievously. He was so handsome at that
moment that Alec briefly lost all train of thought. And then it hit him. "Demarco."
"Yeah. While you were in the shower—"
"—he went through my phone and found your e-mail address. Sneaky little bitch."
Alec removed his phone from his pocket. He opened up the g-mail app and saw an e-mail from
Tyler with the subject lineGood News!Embedded in the body was a picture of Bessie lying in her stall. Above the picture read:The baby is coming. Won't make the show tonight. Why don't you
come here? I'm sorry… for everything. Tyler.
"That's the only pic I have, thanks to Brandy." He squeezed Alec tighter, peering down at the screen. "But you'll see him tomorrow. He's gorgeous."
Alec closed that e-mail. Above it was another from Demarco. The subject line read:On a
Clear Day You Can See Forever.
"He's pretty perceptive, isn't he?" Tyler asked.
"Yes… he is. But it's more about the Streisand reference, I assure you."
He clicked it open and the only words were:You're welcome. —your favorite Government
Hooker.
Alec smiled and turned his phone off.
"Is he really a hooker?"
"Yeah… although the preferred term is male-escort. He's also a sneaky little bitch… but I love him."
"Then I will too."
"So he told you what happened and sent you my flight info. In the meantime… you did all this."
"Yeah," Tyler said. He stood and got their wine glasses. "I saw there were delays in Chicago.
Misty and Al said they would keep the shop open for you, in case you had trouble with the key
codes."
