him again. When she reached him, she flattened her palms on his chest and tipped her head back. “You want kids, don’t you?”
He swallowed, sweat beading on his forehead. He’d sooner jump off a bridge than have kids with this woman. Was she high or did she hit her head earlier in the day and couldn’t remember the two of them had never had sex? Half of him thought it might be fun if he pointed that out right now. Instead, he kept his lips closed as usual. New Millennia Media hadn’t given him the green light to out their total farce of a relationship at any point. They said it was better for ratings if the fans weren’t sure what happened behind closed doors.
Tuck decided to bite his tongue, as usual, and not risk breaking his agreement in the home stretch. “Can we discuss this another time? I’m really tired.”
She stood straighter, her expression one of pure joy. She really was an amazing actress, he had to give her that. Maybe the entire damn setup was an act to her. Hell, wouldn’t it be interesting if he found out she actually despised him from the moment he stepped on the set? “So, you’ll think about it?”
“I didn’t say that. I said I’m tired.” He backed up until his hand was on the bedroom door. “I’ll be gone in the morning before you get up. I’ll meet you at the set, okay?”
“Sure.” She was still grinning when he left her there, making him wonder what sort of performance she put on for their audience after he was sequestered in the bedroom.
He cringed and then took a deep breath and shook off what would probably be his last pubic interaction with her. At least the livestreaming inside their apartment.
Tomorrow, he would go see his mom early enough that Katia wouldn’t be up. He would find a way to stall until he needed to be at the studio for the final shoot. There would be a team of people there to make suggestions and arrange run-throughs before the final live show began. Hopefully, he would have the strength to finish off without losing his sanity or his cool.
Chapter 19
“Tucker Lawler?” The man rushing toward Tuck in the parking lot of his mother’s nursing home was wearing jeans and a Rush T-shirt. His dirty-blond hair was stylishly long, and Tuck figured he was about twenty-five.
Tuck did not want to speak with him or anyone else this morning. He hated that someone was able to track him down at this nursing home at all, and he hated even more that someone would specifically be waiting for him this morning. He never came here on a Sunday.
Furious, he shot the guy a glare and picked up his pace, aiming for the front door. He could see there was a security guard at the door. If he could just get inside, the man wouldn’t let anyone pass behind him.
The blond man kept coming toward him at a jog. “Mr. Lawler, if I could just have a moment of your time. It’s important.”
Tuck ignored him. Nothing was more important than spending a few hours with his mom and then putting an end to this absurd interlude in his life. He picked up the pace, stepping around the insistent guy when he got in front of him.
“Please. Mr. Lawler. I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t important.”
Tuck pursed his lips and kept walking. He was afraid to say a single word for fear he might actually lash out either verbally or with his fists. He was so fed up that violent thoughts made him flex his fingers.
As Tuck reached the front door, the security guard opened it for him. “Sir, I’m going to have to ask you to step back. This facility only permits family members and approved friends of the patients,” the guard insisted.
Tuck made it inside without further incident, wondering why someone would want to hunt him down like this. A man in fact. Women had been hounding him for pictures and autographs for weeks. Not men.
After composing himself and shaking off the unwanted interruption, he made his way to his mother’s room, nodding at the nurse behind the front desk as he passed. “Morning, Tuck.”
“Hey, Shelly. Any change?”
Her eyes were drawn and sad. “No. Sorry. I think she’s comfortable though. She had a good night.”
Tuck kept going. When he reached his mother’s door, he closed his eyes for a moment to center himself, and then