I had told Tyler everything about what Sissy had planned for me. I told him the reasons behind the plan and how the family would supposedly benefit from the marriage. I then told him about my skepticism and my fear about going ahead with the whole thing.
“So what do you think I should do?” I said.
He was looking in my eyes, a sly smile on his face. “I know what I want to do to you.”
“I just asked you a serious question,” I said, pushing down his hand as he tried to undo the top button on my shirt. “I really want to know what you think.”
Tyler grabbed the remote from beside his thigh and clicked off the game we had been watching. He stood and held out a hand. “Come on. Let’s go to your room. There’s something I want to show you.”
I crossed my arms. “Can’t you do any better than that? Seriously, I need to know what you think about this.”
“Okay, okay,” Tyler said, grabbing my arm and pulling me off the sofa. “We’ll go to your room. You give me what I want, and afterward I’ll tell you exactly what I think about your sister’s little plan.”
“Fine,” I said, taking Tyler’s hand and leading him toward the stairs. I glanced down at my watch, and saw that it wasn’t even eight o’clock. Eric said he wouldn’t be home until late. I would make sure Tyler was long gone by nine-thirty at the latest.
We had made love for almost forty-five minutes, taking our time like we always did.
Now, just finishing, we lay naked beside each other in bed, both of us breathing heavily, a light coat of sweat covering our bodies.
I was happy in that moment. Tyler had only been here, in my room, in my bed like this on a few other occasions when my parents were away on trips. But now I could have him over whenever I wanted, and I knew, soon, I would want him over all the time.
I wanted to ask him when, if ever, it would just be the two of us, but I knew he would avoid the conversation. Besides, I truly did need guidance about the situation with the woman I was set to marry.
“What are you thinking?” Tyler asked me, leaning up on an elbow and rubbing a hand over the shaved stubble on my chest.
“I want you to tell me how you think I should play this.”
“Okay,” Tyler said, lying on his back, crossing his arms behind his head. “You told me earlier, Sissy said the business might be in trouble, that P&G might be attempting a hostile takeover, and the shares that you’d receive once you marry might help you hold on to the company.”
“Yeah.”
“Do you think even with the additional shares, that she’ll be able to save it?”
“Tyler, you don’t know Sissy like I do. If you did, you wouldn’t even have asked me that question.”
“Then you answered your question. The shares are important, and you need to get them,” Tyler said. “I would seriously consider this, Cobi. But even if you aren’t sold yet, there is a benefit that you might not have thought of.”
“What is that?” I said, disappointed, hoping Tyler would say marrying this woman was the last thing I should do.
“Do this, and you’ll be married, a family man,” Tyler said, sitting up in bed, looking at me very seriously now. “I know one day you want to be attorney general, and I even believe you made mention of political aspirations. This will help you be the man people want to see.”
“You mean, lie some more? I don’t want—”
“Cobi,” Tyler said, laying a hand on my wrist. “I hate to say it, but what do you think you’ll be doing when you marry this woman? You’re lying then, you might as well take advantage of all the benefits. Also, it will help deflect any suspicion as to whether you and I have something going on.”
“Are you worrying about being found out? You know how careful we are. Why would you even think—”
“Never think that we can’t be found out. Do you know what kind of news that would make? A state’s attorney and an Illinois state senator having a lurid, gay relationship—that would sell a lot of papers and make a lot of money for some people, and there are folks out there who know that.”
“We’re fine,” I said, turned off by the direction of the conversation. “I would never put you in that kind of jeopardy. I don’t appreciate you insinuating that.”
Tyler laid back down and stared up at me. “You know you’re so handsome when you’re angry.”
“Shut up,” I said, trying to push him out of bed. But he was all muscle and wouldn’t budge.
“Come here and give me a kiss,” he said, trying to pull me on top of him.
I climbed him and gazed down in his eyes. “So I’m going to go through with this, not just because you think I should, but for all the reasons I mentioned before you gave your opinion.”
“I think it’s a good idea.”
“Me being married won’t mess things up between us?” I asked, concerned.
“Does me being married mess things up for us?”
“You’re lying in my bed, right.” I laughed. “So it hasn’t messed things up too bad.”
“Once you get getting married, we’ll share the same situation. Things will be even better.”
“Yeah, I guess so,” I said, not knowing if that would really be the case.
“There you have it. Now where’s that kiss?”
I lowered my face and kissed Tyler. I wished he could just stay here the night. As I kissed him, I considered making that request, when I thought I heard a sound in the hallway.
“Hey Cobi, you in there?” It was Eric. He was just outside my door.
Filled with panic, I called loudly, “Eric don’t—”
“We finished up early and—”
Eric must not have heard me, because there were two quick knocks on the door, and then it swung open.