Page 97 of Thrill

He tore through the wedding guests as if his life depended on it. Knowing mummy dearest, it probably did.

Tyler caught up with Danny in the foyer. The bright strip lighting a contrast to the disco they’d come from.

“Danny. Wait.”

Tyler grabbed Danny by the arm.

“Don’t,” Danny warned. He wrenched his arm free.

“I don’t understand. What has she said?”

Danny stopped. “Nothing. It’s more what you said that has winded me.”

Tyler had no idea what was going on. He’d been careful all day. “Fucking hell, Danny. What is it?”

Danny had gone pale. “Your mum seemed ever so interested in my life. You know the one as a busy logistics executive. Dividing my time between the office and my marina-front apartment.”

Tyler’s legs almost buckled under him. He had forgotten he’d even said that stupid nonsense.

“Danny—”

“You’re not going to bamboozle me with clever words, Tyler,” Danny said. “I said this would happen.”

“Nothing has happened.”

“Of course it has. You’ll never be satisfied with me.”

Tyler stepped forward and Danny moved away. “Danny, I’m falling in love with you. Can’t you see that?”

Danny shook his head. “I thought I did. Then you had to lie about me. To them of all people. Do you have any idea how humiliating it was for me to tell them my reality?”

Tyler didn’t meet his gaze. He had only one person to blame in this situation and that was him. “I’m sorry,” he said, miserably. “Truly I am. It was a moment. She’d rung up to be awful about me bringing you and I wanted to shut her up.”

“Yeah. I’m sorry too. I’m going to head to the hotel and see if they’ve got another room.”

“Danny. No.”

“It’s for the best. You’ve used me to win a point in whatever ridiculous game this family plays. That’s not cool, Tyler. I need some thinking time.”

Tyler’s mind whirled. “What are you saying? We’re driving home tomorrow.”

“I know that. Tyler, I’m not breaking up with you. This has battered my head. I’m taking some space now so things don’t go tits up.”

That he’d even said that was a tiny chink of light that Tyler would hold on to.

“I understand.”

Danny squeezed his arm. “Thank you. I’ll see you tomorrow, yeah?”

Tyler nodded.

Once Danny began walking away, Tyler forced himself back into the disco. He couldn’t bear to watch Danny go through the doors. Tyler had a sleepless night ahead. He might as well get a few drinks inside him before going to lie in the bed he should have been sharing.

Of course, with his current streak of luck, the first person he ran into was Deborah. And she looked fit to burst.

“I might’ve known,” she said.

“Don’t start.”