Time Out of Mind (Suncoast Society #43)(62)

“Zucchini?”

She grinned. “Hey, I used a condom on it. And I made him put it in himself. Not like I was touching his skanky ass. But the way I filmed stuff, he’ll think he pulled a train and then stuck that in to, heh, keep everything in.” She giggled. “He took it like a trooper, too. I was impressed he did it on the first try. Must not be his first time.”

“Do I want to watch all the videos?”

“Hell, no.” Her grin widened as she patted his cheek. “Plausible deniability, buddy.”





Mevi was standing inside the backstage entrance and waiting with Tilly as Doyle walked in, then pulled up short.

“Tilly?”

“Surprise!” She gave him a huge hug and whispered something to him.

“What…what are you doing here?” He shot Mevi a confused look.

She waved him off. “Long story,” she said. “Booooring.” She grinned. “Ready to see a concert?”

Mevi would have laughed at how confused Doyle looked and knew explanations would have to wait until later, when they returned to their room. With go time so close, they couldn’t even get two seconds alone. He’d already renewed the marker on his wrist several times that day.

“They need me for pictures,” he said. “Tilly knows where you guys will be watching the show from.” He offered Doyle a nervous smile. “I added three songs toward the end. I hope you like them.”

She hooked her arm through Doyle’s and looked up into his face. “I’ll tell him, kiddo. Don’t worry. Consider me your proxy for the evening. My flight home doesn’t leave until late.”

Bonnie called Mevi’s name and he turned to find her waving him over. They were going on in thirty minutes, and he could hear the crowd out in the arena starting to make noise. They weren’t having an opening act tonight or tomorrow night, or during the European leg. They’d join them in Indianapolis for the third concert.

“I need to go,” Mevi said, offering Doyle a nervous smile.

Doyle leaned in and whispered something to Tilly, who grinned and grabbed Mevi for a hug.

“He says break a leg, boy,” she whispered, playfully ruffling his hair while Doyle looked on smiling. “And that he’s very proud of you.”

Mevi’s face heated, pleased. “Tell Sir thank you for me, please.”

She stepped back and whispered it in Doyle’s ear. He smiled and nodded. “Have a good show, Mal.”

Mevi nodded and hurried to follow Bonnie.

They gathered in the dressing room, just the five of them, alone. Their usual routine.

Pasch looked a little sick to his stomach.

“Relax,” Mevi told him. “It was handled. He won’t be back, and he won’t come after you again.”

“You sure?”

“Positive.”

“Okay, guys,” Bonnie scolded. “Focus. This is a big night.” She smiled at Mevi. “Our big guy’s back, and I, for one, am very proud of him.” She held her hands out and they all stood in a circle, holding hands. She squeezed Mevi’s, in her left.

“Fun, friends, and family. Let’s have a good time and put on a good show. Smiles, boys. Smiles. We’re lucky to be alive.”

Their usual mantra, the one they’d always done, ever since the early days.

Their good-luck prayer.

As they headed out to growing cheers from the announcer whipping the crowd up, Mevi swallowed back his nerves and focused on his job.

This was what he did.

And tonight, he had the most special person in the world watching him.

He would not f*ck it up.





Chapter Twenty-Two


Doyle and Tilly were given chairs where they could see the whole concert just off in the wings, next to the stage manager’s station.

Mevi killed it.

“He’s got a surprise for you,” Tilly said.

“What?”

“Just listen.”

Toward the end, he performed three of the new songs he’d written while in Florida. Before he performed the first one, he said, “I hope you guys like these. Something new, and you’re the first audience who gets to hear them.” He glanced toward Tilly and Doyle even though Doyle knew with the stage lights that Mevi couldn’t see them. “I had the best inspiration ever.”

Tilly leaned against him. “Aww, that’s so sweet. Nearly makes me want to cry.”

“So…why are you here, again?”

She snorted. “Not the time or place for that. Your boy will fill you in with what you need.”

“And what happened to Erique?”

She giggled. “Shut up and listen to your boy sing, dumbass. They’re for you.”

He knew he wouldn’t get any better answer than that, so he watched his boy sing.

He was…amazing.

The crowd thought so, too, erupting in huge applause and cheers after each number.

And Doyle smiled, hearing the private message being sung to him. Even the on-stage antics during the show between Mevi and Bonnie, flirty banter and exchanges, didn’t bother him, because he knew that was going to happen. It was part of their act. It would have been weird if they hadn’t done it.

He’s my boy. And I love him.