Time Out of Mind (Suncoast Society #43)(48)

Clark answered almost immediately. “Doyle? Everything all right?”

“Um, you alone?”

“Why? What happened?”

“It’s…not bad. I—we need to talk to you. You got FaceTime?”

“Why do I have a feeling I’m not going to like this?”

“It’s okay.”

“Give me three minutes to get to my car. Hold on. I just finished a meeting. I’ll call you right back.”

Doyle held his arm out to Mevi, who snuggled against him on the couch. Doyle kissed the top of his head. “This’ll be okay,” he said.

“He sounds upset already.”

“He’s just worried about you.”

Clark actually called them back in two minutes, via FaceTime. Doyle held the phone so Clark could see both of them.

“What’s going on?”

“I need you to hear me out before you panic, okay?”

Clark scowled. “Why?”

This wasn’t going to be easy. “First, we need your confidence. This can’t go anywhere but the three of us.”

Clark rubbed at his temple. “Is he drinking?”

Mevi waved. “No. I’m sober. I’ve stayed sober.”

“He’s sober,” Doyle confirmed.

“Then what’s the problem?”

“I need to cancel our contract,” Doyle said.

“What?”

“I’m still going to stay with Mevi, and travel with him. Everyone in the band needs to think I’m still his SC. That doesn’t change. You can pro-rate my fee up to today. I’ll also turn down the bonuses.”

“I want to pay his expenses,” Mevi said.

Doyle patted his shoulder to quiet him. “Something…happened.”

Clark was muttering something and focused on them again. “What. Happened.”

“Mevi and I are…together.”

“Well, I can freaking see the two of you sitting—oh. Together …together?”

“Yeah.”

“Wait. He’s straight.”

“You tell him,” Doyle said.

“Clark, please, promise me this is private,” Mevi begged.

Clark nodded. “Yeah, yeah.”

“I’m gay. I’ve hid it all my life.”

Clark stared at them. “Go on. Pull the other one.”

“I’m not kidding. I’m gay.”

“Does Bonnie know this? Because I’m pretty sure she’s convinced you’re straight.”

“No. She doesn’t know.”

Clark let out a groan. “You’re canceling the contract because you’re f*cking your client. Fantastic.”

“I’m sorry,” Doyle said. “Nothing like this has ever happened to me before. And no, not to be crude, but I’m not f*cking him yet.”

“And I told him first I’m in love with him,” Mevi added.

“JFC. You two are going to be the goddamned death of me. What the hell am I supposed to do with this?”

“Nothing,” Doyle said. “That’s the point. Only the three of us will know that I’m not actually under contract. I’m still going to make sure he stays sober. I’m still going to run the tests, and if anything, now I can do a better job and have more control over him.”

Clark focused on Mevi. “You’re really okay with this?”

Mevi nodded. “For the first time in my life, I finally feel like I don’t have to lie about who I am. I’m happy.”

“Yeah, well, I can see where that could be rough.” The picture jostled as he shifted position in his car. “Okay. So, just to be clear, Doyle, you are staying with him?”

“Yes,” Doyle said. “The only change is you don’t have to pay me anymore.”

“Just expenses,” Mevi insisted.

Clark rubbed his face with his free hand. “Well, that saves money, I guess. You sure you don’t want me to tell Bonnie for you?”

“No,” Mevi said. “Absolutely not. I don’t want anyone knowing. I…I’ll talk to Bonnie, and everyone else, at some point, but not now. I want to get the tour started. I don’t want that as a distraction. I need to figure out how to tell them.”

Clark leveled a finger at them. “Doyle, I’m still holding you responsible for him. He loses his sobriety, I’m going to sue your ass for something. Not sure what yet, but I’ll ruin you.”

“No,” Mevi said. “I don’t want that. I won’t lose my sobriety. If anything, I’ve got a better chance now. I know this is hard to understand, and explain, but…I’m happy, Clark. I’m happy in a way I never thought I’d be again. And you should hear some of the songs I’ve written!”

Doyle interjected. “Actually, yeah, you should hear some of the new songs. They’re really good.”

“Yeah? You’re working?”

“Yeah!”

“All right, genius. Then let me hear them. Right now.”

“Okay.” Doyle stood. “We’ll go downstairs. Hold on.” He carried the phone down while Mevi raced ahead and got ready. Doyle changed the camera from rear to forward and filmed while Mevi played and sang two of the songs he’d written.