Part 22 (1/2)
Tyler snapped back to the reality of a lecture already started and a professor who disliked him staring at him intently. Please don't ask me a question. Tyler tried to look attentive and interested and breathed a sigh of relief when the professor switched his attention to someone else.
He didn't get a moment to contact Haris until lunchtime. He texted Can U talk? Within a minute, his phone rang.
”Hi. What's up?” Even the sound of Haris's voice made Tyler's toes curl.
”Remember that man from Spot magazine who gave me his card?”
”Yep.”
”He's definitely coming to the gig tomorrow night.”
”That's fantastic. I suppose that means you don't want me to do my Jingle Bells solo.”
Tyler laughed. ”No.”
”I'm brokenhearted.”
”I'll mend it later.”
He could almost hear Haris swallowing.
”Thing is, I'm going to be late back tonight. We need an extra rehearsal. I've booked a room at college and we'll get pizzas so don't expect me back until much before midnight.”
He swallowed at the lie but he didn't want to tell Haris he was going to see Jeremy. Oh s.h.i.+t, I have to. ”The reason I'll be that late is I need to go and check on Jeremy. He's a bit freaked out.”
”Right. Would you like Wilson to drive you?”
Haris didn't sound p.i.s.sed off but Tyler thought he was.
”No thanks. I don't want to keep him hanging around.”
”Then get a cab. I put the money in your account today.”
”Oh. Okay, thanks. See you later. Warm my side of the bed.”
He held his breath and heard Haris chuckle before the call cut off.
The rehearsal went okay, though they were all trying too hard, including him. Tyler figured that by tomorrow, they'd have calmed down enough to play like they usually did. He locked up his guitar with Newt's drums, confirmed someone had booked the van to use the next day and then made his way to Cutty Sark Station.
It felt strange going back to his flat. The place already didn't feel like his anymore. But if he wanted to continue living with Haris and not feel swamped with guilt or worried someone would tell Haris first, he needed to explain everything. He didn't look forward to the conversation, knowing he might be back in his old place sooner than he'd planned.
As he stepped off the train and headed for the stairs to the surface, something p.r.i.c.kled between his shoulder blades and he looked back. He caught the gaze of a middle-aged guy in dark gray coat, carrying a briefcase. Tyler had seen him waiting on the platform at Greenwich.
He didn't think any more of it until he spotted him taking the same route after he'd exited the station. Coincidence? Once Tyler turned the next corner, he ran and darted into a doorway. He gave the guy long enough to walk past and when he didn't, Tyler rolled his eyes at his stupidity, checked both ways down an empty street and carried on walking. He took out his phone and texted. Couple of minutes away. Put kettle on.
Jeremy texted back, Brg ice cream.
d.a.m.n. Tyler swiveled around to go back to the store he'd just pa.s.sed and...saw the man in the coat again. What the f.u.c.k? He hurried into the shop, his heart pounding, and grabbed a tub of ice cream at random. He knew the man who was serving. It was one of Tyler's regular places to shop.
”Hi, Sanjit.” Tyler put the exact money on the counter.
”Ice cream? In this weather?”
”Hey, you're supposed to be encouraging customers.”
”Like to buy a bottle of whiskey instead?”
Tyler laughed. ”No. Do me a favor? Let me out the back way? I think there's some w.a.n.ker following me.”
Sanjit narrowed his eyes. ”No problem, bro. What's the guy look like?”
”Middle-aged. Gray coat. Shorter than me.”
Sanjit nodded. He opened the door behind the counter and shouted, ”Friend coming through.”
”Thanks.” Tyler picked up the ice cream and hurried past the curious eyes of Sanjit's father to the store's rear entrance.
There was no one around as he walked down the street to his flat, and he'd just about convinced himself his imagination had been running wild when a dark-haired guy stepped out of the doorway he'd been heading for. Tyler hesitated and then tightened his grip on the bag holding the ice cream. It was frozen enough to inflict damage.
”Tyler,” Jeremy called and Tyler exhaled.
Jeremy flung his arms around him.
”What have you done to your hair?” Tyler wriggled free.
”Dyed it. I wanted to see if you'd recognize me.”
Tyler pushed him back toward the door. ”Let's get off the street.”
Once they were inside his flat and the door was locked, he went over to the window and looked through a crack in the curtains. He caught the flare of a lighter in a black car parked across the road, but there was no sign of the guy in the gray coat.
”What is it?” Jeremy's voice cracked.
c.r.a.p. Now he'd freaked out Jeremy. ”There's a nosey woman lives across the road. I like to stick my tongue out at her.” He put the ice cream on the counter.
Jeremy sighed. He took two spoons out of a kitchen drawer and offered one to Tyler who shook his head.
”Are you sure it was Gerald watching this place?” Tyler asked.
”Pretty sure.”
”G.o.d, you look different with dark hair.” Although he still looked battered.
Jeremy ran his fingers through it. ”I asked the girl upstairs to get the dye for me. I figured...”
Tyler could guess what he figured. ”I think you ought to tell Prescott what Gerald did.”
Jeremy slumped on the bed, hugging the ice cream. ”He'll say it's my own fault.”
Tyler sat beside him. ”If you tell him you can't go to the parties anymore because of Gerald, I think he'll get the message.”