I lunched with Tyler at an open-air café downtown on LaSalle Street, trying to convince him that he had nothing to worry about when it came to Eric making our relationship known. There were at least a dozen other diners there chatting and enjoying their meals on the beautiful sunny day. Tyler seemed uncomfortable.
It took everything just to convince him to come out and be seen with me in public. He was very paranoid, and he sat picking at his tilapia, wearing dark sunglasses, and looking over his shoulder every now and again.
“And what if he does tell somebody, Cobi?”
“I told you we had a long talk last night. He promised he wouldn’t.”
“Promised,” Tyler repeated with skepticism.
He was about to say something else when my phone vibrated in my pocket. I pulled it out and saw that it was Sissy calling.
“Minor alteration in plans,” Sissy said, her tone very businesslike. “Ms. Greer was put out of her condo this morning, so she’ll be moving into your place today.”
“Hold it. That doesn’t work.”
“She’s been put out. Where is she supposed to—”
“Get her put back in. We’re supposed to be buying her place anyway,” I said, wanting that woman to be anywhere but in my home. I just wasn’t ready. “Do something.”
“It hasn’t been put up for sale yet, Cobi. Besides, the two of you will have to be married in less than twelve days. What is the problem with her moving in now?”
“I’m not ready.”
There was a pause. “Everything that’s going on right now, none of us are ready for. She’ll be at your place when you get home tonight. I’ll put her in the last vacant bedroom. Call you later, Cobi.”
My sister hung up. I slipped the phone back into my jacket pocket.
“Do you have any assurances, any guarantees your brother won’t tell?” Tyler said, not missing a beat.
“No, other than the fact that he’s my brother and I trust him. Why are you so paranoid, baby?” I said, reaching across the table for his hand.
He yanked away as if I was trying to do him harm. “Don’t call me that out here!” Tyler looked around for a moment, then turned back to glare at me through those dark glasses. “You just need to make sure your brother doesn’t open his mouth. We have too much to lose.”
“Fine,” I said looking in both directions to make him think I was as concerned about our secret being found out as he was. “We’ve been together this long, and we’ve been fine. We’ll continue to be,” I said, not realizing we were being watched.