Before he could stop himself, the words rushed out. “I want to stay with you. I don’t want to leave.”
With swift steps, Marcus joined him on the sofa. “Tell me why.” His voice breathed hot against Tyler’s cheek. “Please.”
“You’re going to make me say it, aren’t you?” Warmth burst through Tyler, chasing away the chill of his entire world falling apart.
“Yes.” Marcus smiled against his cheek. “Only if you want to, of course.”
Everything happens for a reason; good or bad, these experiences shape the future in ways never imagined when the journey begins. He’d had a lifetime of bad; Tyler was ready to accept some good for a change.
“I don’t want to leave because I need you.” He pressed a clumsy kiss to the corner of Marcus’s mouth. “I love you.”
Marcus stilled and held Tyler a bit closer. “Do you know that’s the first time anyone’s ever said that to me?” The joking tone had vanished. He lay back against the pillows, a frown pulling down the corners of his mouth.
Astonished, Tyler bit back the sarcastic joke he’d been about to make and gazed down at Marcus’s serious face. Surely that couldn’t be true. Without thinking, he pushed back a few locks of hair that had tumbled over Marcus’s brow to hide his eyes.
“Everyone loves you, Marcus. You’re the first on the guest list to the best parties; the club is packed every night. And I’m sure your parents love you.”
“Forget about my parents.” Unable to meet his eyes, Marcus picked at an imaginary spot on his jeans and huffed out a choked laugh. “As for the rest, it’s all the superficial shit. I’m the great pretender; haven’t you realized it yet? But when the crowds go home and shit gets real, I’ve always been alone.” He looked up then, and Tyler caught a glimpse of that loneliness reflected in his eyes. “Until you came and changed it all.”
They both hid from the world in different ways: Marcus with his flash and sarcastic wit, trading sex for companionship, while Tyler pushed people away, allowing mistrust and false pride to control his life, refusing genuine offers of friendship and goodwill.
“I didn’t mean to bully you into saying it.”
“I think you know by now I don’t say things I don’t mean.” And there was so much more to say between them, but not now when emotions ran high and Lillie’s future hung in the balance. “We’ll talk later, okay?”
Marcus nodded, and at that moment, Josh chose to reenter the room.
“All safe? I didn’t hear any flying objects hit the wall or glass breaking.”
“We’re good, Josh. Tell us what you know.” Marcus sat up, brushing off Josh’s attempt at humor.
Tyler knew by now that when it came to important matters, Marcus didn’t joke around. He was a man Tyler was glad to have on his side.
Josh sat at Marcus’s desk, a pad filled with notes before him, and slid his glasses down over his eyes to read. He’d cancelled all his appointments for the day, and Tyler knew he’d never be able to repay him not only monetarily, but with gratitude for the immediate help he offered, without any questions.
“I spoke to the person who handled our adoption of the twins, and she doesn’t believe Lillie will have to go into foster care. You’ve created a stable environment for her, and the fact that she’s now attending school and formed relationships with other children is a plus.”
“Go on. There’s stuff you aren’t telling me though, right?”
“I can get a judge to grant you temporary custody of her, but it doesn’t look good that you dance in a club for a living.”
“That’s bullshit.” Marcus struck out, his voice hard as a whip. “What he does should have no bearing on how he is as a parent. He’d die for her.”
Touched, Tyler kissed his cheek. “It’s okay. I’m not dancing anymore, remember? I agreed that teaching is the direction I want to head in.”
Josh nodded with approval. “That’s great, Tyler. And yes, Marcus, it may be bullshit, but there are plenty of old-fashioned judges out there who won’t like it. So Tyler being a teacher is better for him in the long run.” He consulted his notes. “We need to try and get in touch with your sister. It would be so much easier if she would show up and we could get her to give you parental rights.”
Once again anger swept through Tyler, this time directed at his sister. “Don’t you think I’ve tried? I wouldn’t have the faintest idea where to start looking.”
“I do.” Marcus had his phone out. “We’ll call Sam. He’s a private investigator.”
Tyler’s head whirled. He had barely enough in his bank account to cover the rent he insisted on paying Marcus, plus the expenses in feeding and clothing Lillie.
“I can’t—”
“If you’re going to finish that sentence with afford it, I’m going to have to kick your ass.”
Marcus said this in such an amiable tone of voice, it didn’t register with Tyler at first. He did however see Josh’s lip twitch, holding back a smile.
