Page 240 of Between Secrets and Obsession
Hours later, it’s finally quiet when it’s Tobias and me alone. I told Liam to take Tyler home so he can sleep in his own bed and to come back in the morning.
“Should we FaceTime your uncle Tyler?” I ask him quietly. “I think he’d really like to meet you.”
I hit the button on my phone and beam when I see his face. “Hi,” I whisper. “There’s someone new here.”
Tyler smiles. “Really? Let me see!”
I flip the camera around. He’s sleeping peacefully on my chest.
“Wow. He’s beautiful, Mads.”
I turn the camera back. “Thank you. I wish you were still here.” I pout, sticking out my lower lip.
Tyler chuckles, then we’re interrupted by a feminine voice in the background. “Hey, Ty—” The dark-haired beauty behind him stops in her tracks. “Oh, sorry, didn’t realize you were on the phone.”
“It’s fine. I’ll be off in a minute,” he tells her.
Once she leaves, Tyler turns toward me.
I raise both my brows. “Excuse me, who is that?”
He rolls his eyes. “It’s not what you think. Her dad is my new boss.”
I lower my voice. “Gemma?”
Tyler nods once.
“Oh. Em. Gee,” I whisper.
I managed to prysomeinfo out of him over the years but only the basics. Gemma was his sister Everleigh’s best friend growing up and now he’s working for her dad. He had a secret crush on her, but he’s “too old,” for her and after he joined the Army and moved away, he tried to forget about how he felt but has never been able to—well, that’s what I got out of his not-so-easy to read between the lines. But I’m pretty good at putting things together. Now I’m guessing he’ll play theI’m not good enough for hercard because of his past and record. I’ll be changing his mindset if I can help it.
“The plot thickens.”
He groans, brushing a hand through his hair. “There’s no plot. We’re…friends.”
I snort and nod. “Yeah, I remember when Liam said that for years, too. Good luck with that.”
“For someone who just gave birth, you’re awfully energized.”
“Don’t change the subject,” I tease. “So when are you gonna ask her out?”
“Jesus.” He blows out a breath. “I gotta go, Mads.”
“You liar! You’re just trying to get rid of me.”
Tyler smirks. “I’d never.”
“I want details, you hear me? Text me all the juiciness.”
He scrunches his nose. “I think you’ve confused me for one of your gossipy girlfriends again.”
I narrow my eyes, trying to persuade him anyway. “Liam and I won’t be able to have sex for six weeks. I need your dating life to hold me over.”
“Maddie, I didn’t enjoyhearingyou guys in the next room for three weeks, so I most definitely don’t enjoy hearing you talk about it.”
“Geez, you’re so dramatic.”
“If you want a girl to gossip with, I’ll give you my sister’s number.”
