"Yeah. It's cheaper that way."
The man falls, pulling the curtains with him as the screen goes black. The word LIAISON fades in.
The men whooped with applause. Demarco hit the pause button.
"So, you see," Demarco said, "It's not the whole Abir story at all. It's been Sheronda-fied, starting with an assassination to reel people in."
"Well, it worked," said Tyler. "I'm hooked... hot men, kink, murder. What's not to like?"
"And what about that Secret Service guy?" said Alec. "So hot.Molten."
Demarco looked at Jack. "I'll say."
"So, it's been picked up?" Alec asked.
"Yeah... ABC. It airs in January. We'll see if it's a hit."
"It will be, D. Everything she does is. Well... except for maybeBack Roads Baby."
Demarco gasped, and the two of them simultaneously exclaimed—"YOU... LEAVE... BRITNEY... ALONE!"—their faces twisting in torment with their best Chris Crocker mimicry.
Tyler looked at Jack. "You want another beer?"
As they finished watching the show, there were cheers and gasps in all the appropriate places. Demarco and Jack, having already seen it, were watching Alec and Tyler more so... anticipating their reactions.
In the final scene, Boris is alone in his apartment. He has been told by his boss, Rex, that he is temporarily suspended from work until the turmoil from the murder dies down. He is relaying this information via Skype to T.K. Knight who listens and offers support, asking if he wants to join him for dinner. Boris declines, citing the need to just..."chill for a while."There is a knock at the door and Boris tells T.K. that he will be in touch tomorrow. He answers the door and it is Ty Folsom, the handsome Secret Service agent, smoldering with five-o'clock shadow and a loosened collar. Boris says"How?..."and Ty plants a heavy one on him, grabbing his face with both hands and mashing it into his own. The screen again goes black and the word LIAISON fades in. The credits roll.
"Wow," Alec said. "Just wow. I can't believe ABC's gonna air this."
"I think I need a cold shower," said Tyler.
"It's pure soap opera," said Demarco. "But I ain't mad. Pretty people sell."
Alec squeezed Demarco in a bear hug. "It's awesome, D. I can't wait to see the rest."
"They'll be finished in a few weeks... and I'll have more screeners."
"Is she trying to get you in L.A. permanently?"
"It films in Atlanta. Which reminds me..."
Demarco looked at Jack who acknowledged, standing. "Hey, Tyler—don't we need to check on the horses?"
Tyler followed suit, rising. "Yeah, we need to feed them. Grab us a couple more. I'll get your coat."
Alec watched them curiously. "Am I missing something here?"
Jack handed Tyler the beers in exchange for his coat. "Nope," Tyler said. "Demarco has something he needs to talk to you about, so Jack and I are gonna go play cowboy."
"OK..." Alec said, drawing the two syllables out, puzzled. "But only one of you in the hayloft at a time."
Demarco laughed.
An outburst of cheers exploded from the gaming bedroom.
Jack pointed in that direction. "You may want to check on them in a little bit, D. Make sure it's only their avatars they're killing."
"Will do, Agent Keegan."
