Page 37 of Only One Tent
“Well, yeah. Only me. We’re exclusive, and if it keeps up, I’m going to ask him to move in.”
“That’s fast.”
He shrugged. “When you know you know. But you? What the hell?”
“I can’t let him go. Yes, I took him to Afterglow, but everything was great. Yeah. Until Joey started insinuating himself.”
“You should have never hooked up with him. I warned you.”
“That was a long time ago. I haven’t been with anyone, especially him, in a long time. And he never fucking bothers me, but he saw me with Skyler.” I held a hand up as if that explained it, but it wasn’t the entire story. “After Joey came to the table, Skyler simply left.” I motioned to the door. “Without a word.”
“Sounds like your boy got jealous.”
“But there’s nothing to be jealous of. I can’t even think about anyone else. I’m breathing Skyler, morning, noon, and fucking night. I want to see him smile. Want to show him new things. I want to know everything about him. Want him in my bed and my life.”
“Oh. My. God. Crow. You’re in love with this guy.”
That was it. Exactly. “Yeah.” I felt hopeless.
“Maybe tell him that. You closeted asshole.” Okay, he wasn’t wrong. I was good at being the daddy, taking care of someone, and telling them what to do. Especially during sex. But I wasn’t so good at talking and sharing. And I wasn’t veryin touchwith my feelings. I needed Warner to help me with that shit. That was why I was here.
“I would, but that’s something you say in person. The first time. Right?”
“Uh, yeah.”
“So how the fuck am I supposed to tell him when he won’t see me? Won’t take my calls?”
He made that noise again as if blowing me off. “You know where to find him.”
Oh. I did alright.
I called Drew to warn him on the drive over.
I hated that it came down to this, but I drove straight over to Drew’s firm and parked in the visitors’ section. Then I stormed through the front doors. A receptionist seated behind the large mahogany front desk asked pleasantly, “Good afternoon, sir. How can I assist you today?” I’d seen him a few times, and although I didn’t have an appointment this time, Drew assured me access when I called.
I was dressed in slacks and a golf shirt, so I didn’t think that would be an issue. I cleared my throat. “I’m here to see Skyler Baldwin.”
He slid a pair of readers over his nose and started looking through notes on a tablet. “And you are…”
“Nelson Crowell.”
“Crowell…Crowell…I have a Crow. Mr. Crow.”
“Yes, that’s me.”
He looked at me skeptically.
“I’ve been here before, surely you recognize me.”
His face pinched up. “You do look familiar, but I think I need to call Mr. Baldwin.”
“No. Call Drew. Please.”
He cocked his head. Yep, he was totally suspicious. But he called Drew and got the okay. Then gave me directions to Skyler’s office. Down the main hall, third left and second door on the right. I repeated that several times and headed out to find him.
And I only made a few wrong turns before stopping in front of his office. He had a side window along his door, so I could see him sitting at his desk, reviewing paperwork. And even better, he was alone.
Shoving the door open without knocking, made his head pop up from his papers in surprise, but in the next second, he scowled. “What are you doing here?”
