Part 13 (1/2)
The warm rush of relief after he'd pressed send confirmed he'd made the right choice. A moment later, the phone rang. Not a surprise, though he'd hoped he wouldn't have to speak to him.
”What are you f.u.c.king talking about?” Prescott yelled.
Tyler's heart pounded. ”I don't want to come to your...parties anymore.”
”You ungrateful little s.h.i.+t. I-”
”Ungrateful?” Tyler turned to the wall and lowered his voice. ”You think I should be grateful to be left hanging in a building I thought was about to burn down? You think I should be grateful a load of c.u.n.ts pay to treat me like I'm nothing?”
”You were paid enough not to care.”
”Yeah, I was, but now I do care. I don't need the money that much.”
”You're not walking away from me, Tyler. If you're not here tonight, I'm going to break every one of your fingers. See if you can play your precious instruments then.”
Tyler ended the call and switched off his phone with shaking hands.
By the time he'd rejoined Haris, he had himself back under control. A selection of sandwiches sat in the middle of the table, a black coffee at the side of his plate.
”Thanks.” Tyler had blown up one bridge, now he needed to mend this one. ”Thanks for all the clothes and the shoes. Sorry if I seem ungrateful. It makes me uncomfortable, you flas.h.i.+ng your black Amex card and me trailing like a puppy behind you.”
”I think it's a little early in the arrangement to give you your own card.”
Tyler laughed and then realized he wasn't joking. f.u.c.k. He helped himself to several sandwiches and began to eat.
”I'm sorry,” Haris said. ”You're right. I hadn't thought about how you'd feel beyond getting some new gear.” He hesitated. ”Have you made your decision? Can you put up with me for four months?”
He could see nothing in Haris's face, neither confidence, resignation, nor even hope. The clothes had been meant to sway him and now that had failed, Haris sat there with no idea which way Tyler would jump. Maybe it was the man's determination to show no emotion rather than the money that tipped the balance.
”Yes,” Tyler said. ”But no more farting.”
Haris gaped. ”I didn't f.u.c.king-ah.” He laughed.
”These are delicious. They've even cut the crusts off. My...my mum used to do that. She said eating crusts would make my hair curly, but I liked it straight.”
”I like it straight too. How do you want me to pay you?”
Tyler blinked at the run-on.
”Each week by check?” Haris asked. ”Or shall I pay it directly into your bank account?”
Tyler took out his wallet and gave Haris his bank card. ”My account number and sort code.”
Haris tapped the details into his Blackberry and handed the card back. ”I'll put the ten thousand in too for incidentals.”
Tyler's heart thumped. ”Minus what you've forked out today.”
”If you wish.”
If I wish? I get this new gear and the ten thou? But that little exchange had brought home what he'd agreed to. He'd be a well-fed, well-pampered pet. f.u.c.king great.
”We'll go via your place on the way back and pick up whatever you're going to need.”
No, we won't. Tyler wanted that part of his life separate. He didn't want Haris to see the dump he lived in. It was his dump and he didn't want it criticized.
”I can do it myself another day. There's not much and nothing I desperately need. Your bathroom's equipped with everything.”
Probably because I'm not the first. G.o.d, are the d.i.c.ks of the others in jars in the bas.e.m.e.nt?
”We better go. I don't want Wilson to get a ticket. I'd never hear the end of it.”
He paid the check and picked up some of the bags. Tyler took the others.
”Where did Wilson come from?” Tyler asked as they made their way out of the store.
”I wish I knew.”
”How long has he been with you?”
”Six years.”
Every answer was clipped. Have I p.i.s.sed him off again? Just by asking questions? More likely he was still p.i.s.sed off from before. Tyler mentally sighed. Insecure, immature, sulky b.a.s.t.a.r.d...and then he smiled. That was him too.
”Do you have anything planned for this afternoon?” Tyler asked.
”I have some work to do. Why?”
”Like to do something with me?” Tyler asked.
Haris turned and smiled. His s.e.xy smile. The one that made his eyes s.h.i.+ne. Tyler was beginning to realize how many smiles he had.
”Let Wilson take the shopping bags back,” Tyler said.
A few moments later, Wilson drove away and Haris stood expectantly in front of him.
”We need to buy a few things,” Tyler said.
”You want to go back in-?”
”No. I'm paying this time. I can't afford their prices.”
”I'll-”
”No,” Tyler snapped. Don't f.u.c.king ruin this. ”Come with me.”
They walked in silence until Tyler found a cheaper place. ”H&M. This store is fine.” He headed toward a display of gloves. ”What's your favorite color?”
”Gray.”
”Great.” He picked up a twin pack of gray gloves. ”Mine's blue but I can go with gray.”