Page 61 of Crocodile Tears

“Yes. Well, hopefully, anyway. I have a ton of ideas.”

“I’m glad to hear it.” Tyler clapped him on the shoulder. “I like meeting bright, enthusiastic young people with big ideas; I’m delighted Lytton AV is going to be in such good hands. Now, I need a drink. It’s been good meeting you, Alexander. I mean it. The Lyttons and the Tylers go back a long way – we’re like family, whatever your old man says.” He winked, shook Alex’s hand again, and then disappeared into the crowd.

Alex picked up the tray of drinks and returned to his father’s side.

“I just bumped into George Tyler.” He handed his father a beer.

“I saw. That bastard had the cheek to offer to buy Lytton AV. Said he was sorry to hear we’re struggling.” His father spat out the words.

“Are we?” Alex asked, sipping his lemonade.

“No, we bloody well aren’t. Okay, so we’re not doing as well as I’d like, but just because he’s got that silly little zone-hopper that seems to have found a niche in the market, doesn’t mean we’re falling behind.”

“Tyler says you and he were here together.”

His father’s jaw tightened. “We were.”

“How come you never talk about it? What happened? Why did you fall out? I mean, you never have a good word to say about him, yet he seems to feel like he’s almost family, so…”

“He’s not,” Noah snapped.

Alex took a sip of his drink and glanced across the marquee. He saw Bax, who was dressed, possibly for the first time in his life, in a formal suit – the only concession to his personality being the bright, floral, and highly experimental holotie around his neck.

Bax had enjoyed a much-gossiped-about affair with one of the boys doing an engineering degree, and their bastard love child was the prototype holotie that Bax had unveiled as his original piece for his fashion degree finals. He was convinced they were going to be all the rage one day. Bax saw him looking across the tent and blew him a theatrical kiss.

His father cleared his throat, and Alex turned back to him. “I liked George Tyler,” he said, knowing it would exasperate Noah. “He seemed nice.”

“He’s a competitor,” his father retorted sharply. “Never forget that. He grew up in our house, was treated as family, and my father paid for his education. He repaid us by starting a rival business.”

“Is that why you fell out?”

“Forget him.” Noah raised his glass and clinked it against his. “This is your big day, son. Let’s enjoy it.”

They filed into the Great Hall for the graduation ceremony. Alex sat next to Bax, who flirted with him outrageously throughout.

“Come on, Alex, sweetie,” Bax whispered in his ear. “This could be your last chance to enjoy the sexual wonderland that is Marlon Baxter. Soon, we’ll all fly away to our new lives, and you’ll regret not sleeping with me forever after.”

Laughing, Alex caught sight of Neil across the room, glowering at them.

Solange trotted up onto the stage to collect her degree, looking perfect in her black gown and mortarboard, but downcast. Alex felt a pang of guilt; he hoped he hadn’t ruined what should have been one of the happiest days of her life. She met his eye and gave the tiniest glimmer of a smile, so maybe there was a chance he might be forgiven.

After the ceremony, he went in search of his father and brother back at the marquee.

“This calls for champagne,” Noah said, marching off in the direction of the bar.

Charles smiled up at Alex. “It’s good to see you both so happy.”

“It’s good to make him proud of me for a change,” Alex said softly.

Charles patted him sympathetically on the arm. “I think you’ll get on better going forward. Now, that person you wanted us to meet earlier wouldn’t, by any chance, be that stunning girl who smiled at you during the graduation ceremony, would it?”

Alex gave a cheeky grin, and Charles laughed. “Knew it! What’s her name?”

“Solange.”

“Pretty name for a pretty girl. So…” Charles lowered his voice so that only Alex could hear. “Does this mean that you’re… you know, no longer…?”

“Bi? No, I’m still bi, Charles. I still sleep with men.”

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