Time Out of Mind (Suncoast Society #43)(63)

When they finished the last encore number and finally left the stage, Mevi felt high.

The good kind of high. The kind he’d only ever felt after feasting on the energy of a show…

Or scening with Doyle.

The stage manager was trying to herd them all back to the VIP suite where they were supposed to meet up with the group of fans there, but Mevi spotted Tilly and Doyle standing in the wings and walked over.

Tilly grinned. “Way to break a leg, slugger. How’s it feel to be back on top?”

“Damn good.” His gaze locked onto Doyle’s and he wanted to pull the man into his arms and kiss him.

Or drop to his knees in front of him.

And knew he couldn’t.

Not because he was afraid for himself, but because he couldn’t out Doyle professionally. Part of the reason Doyle could do what he did and do it so well was because of his anonymity. Being seen kissing him would ruin that for Doyle and he damn well knew it.

Doyle reached out to shake with him, holding Mevi’s hand, squeezing, staring into his eyes before winking. “Good show, Mal. I loved the new numbers.”

Mevi felt a warm flush of energy surge through him. “Thank you, Sir,” he whispered.

Tilly leaned in. “Want me to hug him for you?” she asked Doyle.

“Yes, please.”

She did, patting him on the back before releasing him. “Good job, you.” She even reached up and ruffled his short hair, which made Doyle chuckle.

“Aren’t you going to join us in the VIP suite?” Mevi asked.

“I’m not,” Tilly said. “I need to get my ass to the airport if I want to make my flight home.”

“I’ll go back to the hotel,” Doyle said. “I can ride with Tilly, save the driver an extra trip. I’ll see you there when you get back tonight.”

“But…Sir, it might be late when we come back.”

“That’s all right. We’ll celebrate privately later. You earned this. You did good. I’m very proud of you.” He nodded toward where the others were waiting. “Go on. It’s all right. I want you to have fun tonight.”

Mevi finally turned and followed his bandmates. He didn’t want to celebrate without Doyle.

Maybe I can talk him into quitting what he’s doing and letting me take care of him.

Then Doyle could travel with them. Mevi could freely be out and not worry about it.

Because, honestly? Now he didn’t give a shit who knew he was gay. Not if it meant he had Doyle in his life. But he refused to tank Doyle’s career. That was the last thing he wanted to do.

Bonnie hooked an arm through his as he fell into step with the others, laying her head against his shoulder. “Good to have you back, champ.”

“Feels good to be back.”





Doyle watched them walk away, suppressing the jealous jolt that shot through him when Bonnie hooked arms with Mevi.

Then again, they were friends. Had known each other for years. Past lovers, even if she’d been his beard more than anything.

Stop letting your issues color his actions.

He knew his boy loved him.

As if reading his mind, Tilly hooked her arm through his.

“Don’t rip her head off, Doyle. He’s playing a part. If Leigh hasn’t scratched someone’s eyes out yet, you can get through this.”

“Leigh?”

“Over Nick. The movie premiers and shit? Sometimes he goes with friends. They try to keep it from looking like he’s more than good friends and business partners with Leigh and Lucas.”

“Mevi said he doesn’t care if people know he’s gay now.”

“But he’s shitting-bricks-scared of outing you. Or, should I say, bringing attention to you. He knows discretion is critical to your job. You haven’t seen the entertainment business from this end of shit, dude. Not really. Not as an active participant and subject of scrutiny, only as an anonymous observer. You do not want to be on their radar. I had a f*cking photog dogging my ass for weeks once, and I’m not even ‘famous.’”

He tried to relax. “Oh. I thought Mevi was just overreacting.”

“No.” She laid her head on his shoulder. “Your boy loves you,” she said, softly enough no one could hear her. “And—I cannot emphasize this strongly enough, which is why I’m repeating myself—he’s deathly afraid of outing you.”

“He’s a very good boy.”

“That he is.”

Tilly got her bags from the security guy watching them for her and they followed the driver out the backstage door. There were already crowds gathered around the area, held back by security and fences, looking for autographs.

As their car slowly cruised past the people, Tilly stared out the window. “And here I thought what we did was crazy. This is like a whole ’nother planet in comparison to the movie biz.”

“Thanks for whatever you did for them,” he said, mindful of the driver up front.

She shrugged, finally turning to smile at him. “Helping friends out. Working out some anger issues. Evening the karmic scales. What’s not to love about that?” Her smile transformed into a manic, toothy grin that made him chuckle.

“Same ole Tilly.”

“Never thought sadism would serve me well in professional life.” She sighed. “Should have gone to law school. I thought about it, but I had so much experience with my mom and stuff that nursing seemed better. Job security.”