“The alarm on my phone.”
She sat up in bed. “What time is it?”
“Two.” He had an hour to shower, shave, and get to the arena for check-in. Oh, and he was also supposed to meet Buck Bishop fifteen minutes early.
He leaned over and kissed her hard on the mouth. “In case you haven’t figured it out, I love you, Tristan.”
He turned around, went into the bathroom, and left her there. Mulling over his words.
What reaction had he been expecting? Was he waiting for her to join him in the shower and tell him she loved him too? He could wait until the water ran cold. Unlike him, Tristan wasn’t a chicken shit. When she told him she loved him, it would be when they were in bed together. Maybe she’d tell him while they were making love. Maybe she’d tell him right after they finished making love. Whenever it was she decided to tell him, she wouldn’t blurt it out, and then get away from him as fast as she could.
Her phone was ringing. Bullet was still in the shower, or shaving, or doing something. Whatever it was, he hadn’t come out of the bathroom.
She found her bag where they’d dropped it, by the hotel room door, and pulled out her phone.
“Hi,” she answered quickly before it went to voicemail.
“Tristan, it’s Liv.”
“Hi, Liv, how are you?”
“I’m good. Uh, by any chance, are you with Bullet?”
“Why?”
“Well, there’s someone down here, looking for him, and it seems kind of important.”
“Where are you?”
“I’m in the lobby of the Thomas and Mack Center.”
Tristan told Liv they’d meet her there in a half hour. She was headed there too for the press conference Lyric had arranged.
When Bullet came out of the bathroom, Tristan was dressed.
“What’s goin’ on, darlin’?” He put his arm around her waist.
“Liv called. She said somebody’s at the arena, looking for you. And that it was important.”
“Ain’t nobody as important as you, right now, darlin’.”
Clearly, Bullet was feeling very amorous after his declaration of love, but the tone in Liv’s voice worried her.
“I think it’s serious, Bullet.”
“I doubt it, but if it’s botherin’ you, let’s get over there and see who it is.”
Liv was alone when Bullet and Tristan walked in the front door of the arena.
“Well,” he said. “I thought somebody was looking for me.”
Liv pointed in the direction of the hallway. “Do you know that man?”
“Never seen him before in my life.”
“I don’t think he knows you either, but he’s been asking everyone if they’ve seen you.”
“Huh. Well, only one way to find out.” Bullet walked over to the man who was on his cell phone. “Hey, mister.” He tapped the man on the shoulder. “I hear you been lookin’ for me.”