Book The Sunday Gigs
March 2022…
“Okay, so today is March…9th right?” Tyler asked Clark.
“Yes.” He responded as he looked over his planner. Tyler wrote something down in his.
“Okay, so I have a few shows this weekend. You’ll be home tomorrow then right?”
“Uh, no. I’ll be home the morning of the 11th. Leaving the…” He consulted his notes. “the 15th.”
“Okay, that gives us all day together on Sunday at least. I don’t have anything that day. My last day at the restaurant is tomorrow, but I do have four shows on Friday and Saturday. No, wait. I’ve got…seven total.” Tyler went on.
“That’s not a problem. But I really want to spend Sunday in bed all day with you.” Clark smiled through the video call.
“And that’s what I want.” Tyler responded. “So that’s what we’ll do.” They smiled at each other. “And you’re sure that you’ll be back home again in two weeks right?” Clarks month away had already gone over by two weeks. Now Clark was coming back for the weekend only to have to fly back to Seattle for another two weeks to oversee the project.
“Yes, that’s the plan. Then I’ll have a few more months in Austin before I have to come back to Seattle.” Clark explained some more business things that Tyler didn’t care for nor particularly understand. He also didn’t care to understand them. He just wanted Clark home. As much as they had been arguing recently, over the wedding – when it would be, how big, where – he missed his fiancé and wanted him home… and in his hole.
They chatted a bit more and tried the phone sex thing again, but Tyler didn’t like it. It didn’t get him off the way the real thing did. He tried to use toys, but again nothing compared to Clarks huge cock drilling into him over and over again.
“I really need to go; I love you babe.” Clark said to Tyler and they said their goodbyes.
Tyler closed the laptop and heaved a sigh, looking around the big empty apartment. He looked out over the city and took in another deep breath. He still felt uneasy in this place. Like he didn’t belong. With Clark gone so long it had given Tyler time to really feel this place and try to fit himself in it. He hadn’t brought much of his stuff over when he moved in. He’d put most of it in storage, he had brought a shelf and some books, his rug and his favorite reading chair. Other than these things and his clothes, there was nothing of his in this apartment. Clark had made him feel comfortable and welcome, but Clark also had already filled up the apartment so there was no need for some of Tylers things. He’d left his couch behind for Amy.
Tyler crawled into bed and took in Clarks scent that was all over his side of the bed. The smell of his man got him hard and he started to finger himself and jerk off, imagining Clark doing these things to him. Again, however, it didn’t compare and didn’t do much for Tyler so he gave up and went to bed instead. Excited to ride his man until his balls fell off this weekend.
*****
“Thank you.” Tyler told the waitress as she placed his food down in front of him. He and Amy were having a lunch meeting. Business had picked up for them both over the last few months. People all over Austin and the surrounding area were calling to try and book him. Amy had to turn down gigs now.
“So you excited for Clark this weekend?” She asked.
“You have no fucking clue.” He took a bit of his food. “I’m so damn horny I’m thinking when he comes home this weekend I might chop it off before he leaves so I can have it while he’s away.”
“You could just do one of those cloning kits.” She laughs.
“I want the real thing.” Tyler joked. Amy giggled and then pulled out her schedule book.
“Okay, so…don’t be mad.” She started.
“What?” Tyler groaned.
“I booked you 6 more gigs.” She grinned.
“Okay.” Tyler raised an eyebrow.
“Two of them are on Sunday.” Amys grin persisted, but took on different meaning.
“Amy,” Tyler rolled his eyes. “Sunday is supposed to be ‘bed day’ with Clark.”
“I know, but there’s several good reasons.” She defended.
“And they are?”
“The money and…Jason kind of wants you to stay booked and busy. He wants to make sure people know who you are.” Amy spoke slowly, not telling Tyler everything.
“Why…” Tyler was curious. Jason was involved sure, but not this much usually.
“Because of the Kincaid tour.” She smiled again, big and bright.
“What about his tour?” Tyler had of course that Walter was going to have a big tour this year, but he didn’t know what that had to do with him.
“Because Jason wants you on it. I want you on it.” She spit out quickly.
“What!” Tyler nearly choked on the word; surprise pulsed through him.
“We want you on the Walter Kincaid tour, Walter apparently likes you but thinks you’re too green and can’t handle a tour this large.” She explains. “It’s four months long and is over a hundred shows.”
“Over a hundred…”
“You’d be his lead opener. Thirty-minute sets.” Amy told Tyler. “I think you’re ready. That’s why I’m pushing you so hard.”
“Amy I…” Tyler let the thought soak in. Opening for Walter Kincaid. Walter fucking Kincaid. “But what about my weekend with Clark, how are we gonna make the travel work with him?” Tyler asked.
“What?” Amy balked.
“Clark. How am I gonna make a four-month tour work. I mean we’ve got a wedding to plan, we’re building a house. Not just that but four months is a long time.” Tyler stated his concerns.
“Tyler are you fucking serious?” She asked.
“Yeah.”
“Tyler are you hearing yourself right now?” Amy leaned over the table and looked Tyler dead in his eyes. “I just told you that one of your biggest dreams, a goal you’ve had for years, is about to come true and you’re worried about a fucking man!” She couldn’t believe this.
“He’s not just a man Amy, he’s my fiancé.” Tyler understood it sounded a bit ridiculous, now that Amy put it into perspective, but he still had to find a way to factor Clark into all of this. He wasn’t just some guy; he was his fiancé. This was a big decision that didn’t just affect him alone.
“Sorry if this is offensive, but who gives a fuck about Clark right now Tyler.” Amy was annoyed. “I worked hard to get you this offer. I had to practically beg Jason fucking Miezel to consider you. I’ve been overworking you on purpose, myself too, to prove to them that you could handle it. That you may be green, but you’re ready.” Amy couldn’t believe Tylers hesitation. This is what he’d always wanted.
“This decision affects him too Amy. If I leave for four months we have to reschedule our own plans.” Tyler told her. “I love him.”
“I love him too, and I’m so happy you’ve found someone – happier that you’re engaged and I’m not saying you don’t get married – but think about this Tyler. This is it. The big break. You crush this tour, and I could get you started in small roles on tv as a guest star. Maybe in a movie. This time next year we could be planning your own tour. Headlining. Spots on talk shows.” She put it all into perspective for Tyler.
“I’m not saying I don’t want it Amy, I do. I want it all. But I need to make sure that Clark has a place in it too. I want him by my side.”
“God fucking – Christ Tyler! Do you want Clark or do you want everything you’ve dreamed of?” She spat.
“I want both.”
“And I’m not saying you can’t have both. Later. But right now. You get the tour, Clark, sure, can fly around if he wants to see you, follow you. But he can’t be the reason you turn this down.”
“I’m not turning it down Amy.”
“So if it came down to it, would it be Clark or the tour. Stay here, plan the perfect wedding, walk down the aisle, say ‘I do’. Or would it be going on a four-month tour and opening up the door to a future you’ve dreamed of since I met you?” She asked. “Because right now, you can’t have both. I’m sorry but you can’t. A year from now after the tour, different story. But right now, right here, in this moment. You can’t have both.” She pushed the schedule book towards him with dates circled, numbers written in the margins, future gigs already put in stone.
“I-”
“I want you to be happy, I want you to get married to Clark if you want. But right now you’ve got to choose. Be with him now and lose this opportunity, or take this opportunity and be with him later. You get him either way. He loves you. He won’t leave you if you have to postpone the wedding. But if you blow off this tour?” Amy didn’t need to finish. Tyler knew that if he chose Clark over the tour it would be another year or two of hard work before Miezel offered him another or even his own.
This was his ticket. This was his moment. He could have it all later, right now he wanted the tour.
“Book the Sunday gigs.” Tyler told Amy, smiles slowly spreading across their faces.
*****
Clark and Tyler rolled around the bed, naked. Tyler had just picked up Clark from the airport and he was still tired from the night before. He hadn’t slept yet after his gig because he knew he had to pick up Clark from an eight AM flight. They’d gone straight home and their clothes left a trail from the door to the bed.
“Oh god!” Tyler moaned as Clark took control and pushed Tyler into the bed, nibbling on his nipples as he went down from his lips. He was making his way to his hole. Clarks favorite place to be.
“Fuck I missed you.” Clark said to Tylers pussy as he lifted Tyler up and pulled his cheeks apart, revealing the winking pink. He dove in.
“Oh!” Tyler exclaimed and arched his back as Clarks thick tongue breeched his hole. “Fuck baby I missed you.” Tyler rested his legs on Clarks strong, broad shoulders as Clark placed his hands on Tylers chest, playing with his nipples. Tyler grabbed Clarks hands and kept them there. “I fucking love when you do this to me.
Clark could suffocate between Tylers cheeks and die happy, eating his hole. “Fuck baby, I can’t wait to breed you.” He came up for a moment of air, then dove back in.
“Fuck, get on your back daddy.” Tyler commanded and they switched positions. Tyler squatted over Clarks mouth and smothered him with his big ass cheeks as he went down, taking Clarks cock to the base in a quick motion. Tyler got to work on Clarks penis while he ate him out. Tyler cupped Clarks balls as he twisted his tongue around the shaft. Pulling his foreskin back with his throat expertly to expose the sensitive cockhead to his velvet inner throat.
Clark dug in deeper, moaning as Tyler worked his magick, pulling precum from deep within his balls. Clarks tongue coated Tylers inner walls with thick amounts of saliva, his finger joining in on the fun to stretch him open. Getting him ready to receive his thick cock.
“Oh, fuck baby I gotta fuck you.” Clark begged, coming out of Tylers cunt for air and to tell him he was ready.
“I need you inside me.” Tyler agreed, coming up.
“Ride me, I wanna see that ass bounce up and down on my dick.” Clark insisted and Tyler simply nodded and crawled forward, letting his ass jiggle causing Clarks cock to throb in anticipation.
“You ready for this daddy?” Tyler teased as he reached back, lining up his fiancés cock with his tight, throbbing hole.
“Oh fuck baby boy, please.” Clark played with his own nipple and used his other hand to help Tyler steady his cock as he started to push back. “Ohhhh, fuck!” Clark groaned in pleasure as Tyler inched back on him, his walls expanding and shaping around Clark like a sleeve. He was so tight and Clark was so hard it felt like their first time all over again. “Oh that’s right baby.”
“Fuuuuck.” Tyler moaned as he settled all the way down. “Ah!” Tyler yipped as Clark slapped his left cheek hard. “Ah!” He yipped again as Clark gave his right cheek a matching handprint. He then grabbed both cheeks and jiggled them.
“Fucking Christ babe!” Clark moaned in ecstasy as Tyler started to squeeze and release to massage Clarks cock. “Start fucking me.” He slapped again and commanded. Slowly Tyler raised up until only two inches were inside him, then he pushed back. “Fuck…” Clark moaned quietly, his head falling back. He kept his hands on Tylers cheeks to guide him as Tyler started to rock back and forth on Clark.
“Oh god…” Tyler moaned, his eyes crossing and his mouth gaping as he started to move faster on Clarks dick. “Fuck baby!” Tyler moaned again. “Fuck.” He picked up speed and Clark slapped his cheek again. “Fuck!” Clark smacked him again. “Fuck!” Once more. “Oh god daddy, I need you to fuck me.” In an instant Clark took control, pulling out of Tyler and pushing him face first into the mattress. Clark put Tyler into position and pushed back into him in one quick motion, fucking him ferociously. Tyler tried to say something, but his mouth was full of sheets.
“Fucking take this cock bitch!” Clark got dominant the way Tyler liked, piston fucking him harder and harder with each thrust. The sound of his hips colliding with Tylers cheeks, and the smell of their sex filling the room. Tyler started to cry and moan in pleasure, he tried to raise up into the doggy position but Clark pushed him back down and used his strength to keep Tyler down. “Get the fuck back down. This is my pussy now bitch!”
“Yes daddy!” Tyler moaned into the bed, barely audible. Clark picked up the pace.
“You miss me you fucking whore?” Clark slapped Tylers ass with his free hand, keeping the back his necked clamped in the other. Not letting him up. Tyler wasn’t able to answer as he was lost in the euphoria of Clarks nine-inch penis hitting his prostate with each thrust. “I said,” Clark reached up and grabbed a fistful of Tylers hair, pulling him up and leaning down into his ear. Still fucking him relentlessly. “Did! You! Miss! Me! Whore!” He punctuated each word with a slapping thrust into Tylers pussy. “Answer me!” He went back to his quick, deep thrusts.
“Fuck! Yes daddy!” Tyler yelled as Clark stretched his pussy, he was sure it would be gaping after this. “Oh, god please fuck me! Don’t stop!” He begged.
“This is my fucking cunt!” Clark grabbed Tylers arms and pulled them back, using them as leverage to drive deeper into his hole. Tyler could feel his orgasm swelling.
“I’m gonna cum daddy!” He cried. “I’m gonna cum!”
“Cum for me baby boy!” Clark commanded and he did. As Clark finished his sentence, Tyler came hands free. His spunk erupting and making a mess all over the sheets below them. “Oh, fuck yeah baby!” Clark kept pushing into Tyler, his orgasm making his pussy contract. It created a vice around his cock as he pumped closer and closer to his own orgasm. “Fuck make it tighter for me baby, I’m close!” Tyler squeezed tighter, pushing his hips back against Clarks thrusts trying his best to milk Clarks load out.
“Breed me daddy! Get me pregnant! Give me your babies!” Tyler begged Clark to cum.
“I – oh fuck! I’m cumming!” Clark yelled as he pushed all the way in one final time, releasing a month’s worth of semen into Tylers tight pussy. “Oh! Fuck!” Clark pushed in more and shuddered. “Ah-” He groaned as he pumped another shot deep into Tyler. Clark collapsed onto Tylers back, panting.
“Fuck daddy.” Tyler moaned quietly as he lay under Clark.
“I fucking love you.” Clark whispered into Tylers ear as he worked his back down, spreading his cheeks apart. “Oh fuck, I really did some damage here.” Tylers hole had never looked like this afterwards. It couldn’t close. It was gaping, cum – more cum than Clark had ever produced before – was oozing out of it.
“Oh, god. It feels so good.” Tyler mumbled into the bed as Clark stuck his tongue inside the spent cunt. He writhed in pleasure as Clark cleaned up the mess he made. “I’m so tired baby.” Tyler told him.
“Well let’s take a nap then babe.” He kept eating him out. “Then we can do round two in the shower.” He pressed his thumbs inside and pulled it apart, making sure it didn’t close back up. “I’m tired too.”
“The sheets are a mess.” Tyler commented.
“We’ll wash them later.” He told him as he picked him up and laid him down at the head of the bed.
“Oh, thanks baby.” Tyler pulled Clark into a kiss. “I love you.”
“I missed you.” Clark smiled into Tylers mouth.
“I’m tired, I haven’t slept yet.”
“Let’s go to bed then baby.” Clark got the blanket from the ground and the two cuddled up and went to bed.
Both of them had news for the other that could wait. Neither knew how the other would react.
*****
A few days later…
Clark sat in his advisors office; it was cold. He’d come here straight after leaving work. Saturdays in the office were always awful, but today had been even worse as it was because of the fucking Seattle project. He knew he shouldn’t have agreed to do it. But his father had told him he’d get a raise and with the wedding and house, Clark needed the money.
Tyler wanted to contribute to both, but his career had only just started and Clark was too impatient to wait a year for Tyler to be where he needed to be to be able to help pay for everything. But Clark had a plan for that.
“Okay, this is the last form, you’re sure about this?” Jesse asked him
“No, but also yes.” Clark said. He was conflicted. He knew Tyler might be annoyed with him for this, but he was also hoping he would see that he was doing this for them. Their future. He signed the paperwork.
*****
“You’ve been a wonderful audience! My name is Tyler Harris, thank you and goodnight!” Tyler finished his set and took a small bow before exiting the stage as the room erupted in applause. He’d crushed it. The club was full, standing room only at this point. Pure bliss vibrated through him. He got off the stage and searched for Clark and Amy.
“Oh my god that was fucking great!” Amy said as she hugged Tyler.
“Thank you!” He squeezed her. “Where’s Clark?” He asked. “He said he’d be here.”
“He didn’t make it.” Amy broke the news. Clark had missed all of Tylers shows because he needed to be at work, even on Sunday when he’d been called in. He’d promised to be at this one though as it was his last one before he flew out the next afternoon.
“But he said-” He was cut off my Jason.
“Tyler, a great show. Yet again. What did I tell you kid, he’s good.” Jason directed this to another man who was joining them.
“Oh my god!” Tylers mouth fell open. “You’re-”
“Walter Kincaid.” He reached out his hand and shook Tylers.
“It’s…it’s an,” Tyler composed himself. “It’s an honor to meet you.” He cleared his throat and head.
“No, the honor is mine. You’re hilarious, maybe funnier than me even.” He chuckled in his low, but gentle timbre.
“Thank you.” Tyler laughed nervous and dropped Walters hand. “What are you doing here? If I may ask.” Tyler asked.
“Well, Jason has spoken very highly of you and your manager keeps leaving me messages saying I need to come see you.”
“And I was right.” Amy chimed in; her nerves buried deep under her determination. She’d worked hard to make sure this would happen and she knew this was a good stop by, she just knew it.
“And I’m happy you were.” Walter grinned. “Because I don’t know if you know this, but I need a lead opener for my tour coming up.” He raised a brow to Tyler.
Yes! Both Tyler and Amy shouted in glee internally. This was it; he’d made it. Tyler had finally made it.
“Yes!” Tyler accepted without a second or even first thought.
“Well I’m happy to hear that. I’ll see you in the office tomorrow to work out the details.” He turned to his manager, who had been standing there with a grin. “Jason, make it happen. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got to get home to my husband. It’s late for me. I haven’t done a show past midnight in nearly a year now.” Walter smiled and shook hands again before leaving.
Tyler stood there, his thoughts racing as Jason and Amy spoke. Making plans and setting up a time for the next day. Tyler was so happy, ecstatic. He wanted to share it with Clark, but he wasn’t here.
Shit, he thought, Clark. He still hadn’t told him about the possibility of the tour, it had slipped his mind as their schedules didn’t line up over the weekend. He was coming back from his gigs after Clark had gone to bed and Clark was leaving for work while Tyler was sleeping. Their ships kept passing each other.
Is this what it’ll be like? Tyler let the thought cross his mind.
Amy finished up with Jason and they all walked outside. The cool night air blowing past them as they headed towards Tylers car. Amy was talking but Tyler was thinking and as he did his anxiety climbed.
He wanted this, but now he had other issues to face. How to tell Clark that they needed to pause them. He had no clue where to start.
“Tyler!” He heard Clarks voice call out and he came out of his thoughts to see Clark jogging towards he and Amy. “Tyler, I’m so sorry I missed your show. But it was for good reason, I can explain.” He said, taking Tyler into a tight hug as he reached them.
“What is it?” Tyler asked him, still mildly lost in his storm of thoughts.
“Come on, I’ll show you. We’re close.” He insisted as he pulled Tyler in another direction. Amy followed, curious.
The group walked about three blocks up to the outside of an abandoned space in the building on the street.
“What is this?” Tyler asked as a pit formed in his stomach. He sensed he already knew what Clark had done.
“Let’s go inside I’ll show you.” Clark repeated as he produced a key and opened the door.
“Clark what the fuck.” Amy said Tylers usual line now.
“Nobody get mad, I’m gonna explain.” Clark smiled and began. “I missed tonight’s show because I was signing the final paperwork on this.” He outstretched his hands.
“What is it?” Tyler asked, trying his best to keep cool. But it was hard as his anxiety and annoyance were battling for dominance over his calm.
“It’s going to be a club.” Clark clapped his hands. “A comedy club.” He did jazz hands.
“What the fuck.” Tyler repeated Amys words. “Clark why the fuck did you buy a comedy club?” Amy shrunk back, sensing the rising tension.
“For us.” He said. “Our future.”
“What – Clark – that doesn’t make any sense. Why the fuck would you buy a comedy club?” Tyler asked again.
“I just told you, for us.” Clark repeated.
“Clark-” Tyler didn’t know what to say. Clark had once again made another purchase, added more debt to Tylers ticket. He furrowed his brow and started to rub his temples, a headache forming.
“Look, before you get mad-”
“Before I get mad?” Tyler fumed. “Clark, this is- I am beyond – this is insane. Why did you do this? This surpasses anything you’ve done thus far.” Tyler laughed from stress.
“Because I don’t want to move to Seattle for the next year. I want to stay here with you and go to your shows. Host some.” Clark said.
“Wait what?” Clarks words scratched through his annoyance. “What do you mean a year?”
“The Seattle project is being streamlined. We knew I’d have to move up there while it was happening. We just thought it would take some more time, but my dad greased some palms to speed up the process. We break ground next month; construction will last at least a year and my father wants me to be onsite as the executive of the project.” Clark explained. “That’s why I’ve had so many meetings this weekend. When I go back tomorrow, I don’t come back for at least a year. I don’t want that so I told my father I’d go up for the month, get the new guy up to speed, then I’m done. I quit. I’m coming home to you.”
“You can’t do that for me Clark.” Tyler told him.
“It wasn’t for you. It was for us, for our future. I can have the club up and operating in two – three months tops – and you’ll be on that stage at least once a week. A headliner, name on the marquee.” Clark smiled and closed the space between them, taking Tylers hands. Amy stood in silence; she knew when to be invisible. Now was one of those times. She shrunk into the shadows. “This’ll be good for us.”
“It’ll be good for you.” Tyler said, his voice and face flat.
“No, for us.”
“Fuck Clark you did it again and you don’t even see it.”
“Did what?”
“Added more to my fucking debt.”
“I told you that that isn’t how this works, you never owe me anything.” Clark told Tyler again as he had many times before.
“And you still don’t see how I feel about this!” Tyler backed away and threw his hands up in exasperation. “You know what, actually I don’t think I would’ve minded this as much if you’d talked to me about it first.” Tyler laughed in stress. “Because I would’ve told you not to do it.”
“Which is why I did it without telling you.”
“That’s a great argument actually Clark, wow you solved everything.”
“Don’t do that.” Clark said.
“What? Don’t do what? Don’t be glib about your feelings, disregard them?” Tyler asked. “That’s what you’ve done our entire relationship.”
“No I haven’t.”
“Clark you’ve been throwing money at me since we met, we’ve talked about it several times and you still haven’t learned!” Tyler yelled. “I feel fucking trapped, suffocated.” He started to cry. “What happens ten years from now if I want to leave?” A deep fear bubbled up from him.
“What?” Clark froze, his blood turning to ice.
“Flash forward ten, twenty years. I’m unhappy, what if I want to leave.”
“Then leave?” Clark told him. He hoped it’d never come to that but he supplied the solution.
“And you wouldn’t hold any of this over me?” Tyler asked.
“Never. I’d never hold anything over you to make you stay.” Clark reached out but Tyler receded. “Tyler I love you.”
“I love you too Clark,” He responded, “but I can’t feel like I’m your property. I can’t feel like I live in a cage.”
“I’m sorry, I’ll sell the place. I’ll go back to my dad’s company; it’ll be a tough year. But we can make it work.” Clark tried to backpedal.
“It’s not just that. It won’t be so easy anymore.” Tyler said, tears running down his face. Now was the hard part. Now was the part where he told Clark that as much as he loved him, no matter what he did to fix it, he would pick his career over him.
“What do you mean?” Clark asked. He felt a pit in his stomach grow. It was heavy. It felt like it would shred him apart, drown him in one inch of water.
“I got a gig, a good one.” Tyler said, wiping tears and clearing his throat.
“That’s great, when is-”
“It’s the Walter Kincaid tour.” Tyler cut Clark off. “It’s four months long.”
“We can make it work.” Clark said instantly. “We can.”
“And after?”
“We make that work too.” Clark felt tears in his own eyes. He sensed what was coming next and he wished time would stop so it wouldn’t come.
“It’s just the beginning Clark.” Tyler stepped into Clark. He took a deep breath. “After the tour, I start flying. I reach the stars.” Tyler choked up, tears falling again as he looked up into Clarks eyes. Taking his hands and gently squeezing them. In that moment, Tylers eyes told Clark everything. Showed him the future. Clark started to cry. “I will always love you. Always.” He reached up and wiped a tear away from Clarks face.
“Tyler…” Clark whispered.
“But I can’t do this. I can’t live with ‘we’ll make this work’ and you constantly doing this over and over.” He motioned to the empty club.
“I swear I’ll stop.” Tyler pulled out of Clarks grasp and fiddled with the ring on his finger.
“Clark I-”
“Tyler please.” Clark cried. He almost fell to his knees to beg.
Tyler started to take the ring off.
“Clark, I will always love you,” Tyler repeated. “and I will always appreciate all you’ve done for me. But I have wanted to be an entertainer for as long as I can remember. My future is me on stage, on screen. And I wanted you to be there but…” Tyler took the ring off and Clark felt his heart stop. “I can’t do this if we have to ‘make this work’ and I always feel like I’ll owe you for this.”
“You don’t owe me anything, just please put the ring back on.” Clark cried and took Tylers hands trying to put the ring back on, but Tyler stopped him. Putting the ring in Clarks hand and closing his fist.
“I have to do this now, or I’ll never have the strength to do this.” Tyler said. “The next step in my career I have to do alone so I will always be sure I did it alone. So I never have to wonder if it’s because you introduced me to Jason, or bought me stage time, or because you bought me a club to headline in.” Tyler cried, a tear falling onto Clarks fist. “I need to do it free of thinking I’m trapped, or that I’m racking up more debt to you. The wedding, the house, just more debt to add to my tab.”
“Tyler please…”
“I love you.” Tyler reached up and kissed Clark one final time. “I will always love you…but I have to do this.”
“Tyler…” Clarks heart was dust, a pile of ash at the bottom of his chest. “I can’t let you go. Please stay.” They stood there for a moment in a silent embrace. “Make me at least one final promise?”
“What is it?”
“Sell out a tour. All of them. Burn bright.” Clark said.
“I love you.” Tyler repeated one last time, pulling out of Clarks grasp and walking out the door. Amy followed silently.
He and Amy walked slowly and quietly back to his car.
“What now” Amy asked, she’d shed a tear herself at the heartbreaking scene. They got in the car and sat in silence for a moment while Tyler thought about it.
“Book me a show every night until the tour. Reach out to every club you can across the country. When we’re done with the Kincaid tour, I want to go to Jason with a list of clubs for my own headlining tour. I want to begin it in the new year. Four months, like Walter. Kaylee can open, get her ready.” Tyler started the car. “After that we’ll do a few guest starring roles on some TV shows. Get me on screen, drum up some new fans. I want another tour September of next year.” Tyler pulled out of the parking lot and drove.
Epilogue: You Were Hilarious
Sometime later…
“Wow! Tyler Harris everyone!” Walter Kincaid applauded as Tyler joined him at the desk. “What a performance!” He shook Tylers hand.
“Thank you Walter.” They sat. “It’s good to see you again.”
“You too. You too.” Walter smiled to the camera and read his teleprompter. “Can we hear it for Tyler Harris one more time?” The studio audience cheered and applauded once more. Tyler sat on the set of Walters’ talk show. He’d been picked up about a year ago. Tonight With Walter Kincaid, the show was called.
“Oh, thank you. Thank you all, but this is your show come on.” Tyler tried to direct the attention to Walter but failed. The people were excited to have him, he was excited to be there.
“Nonsense, you’re my guest of honor. And for good reason.” He chuckled. “You’ve had quite a busy career now haven’t you. And a quick one. You appeared almost overnight and have taken the world by storm.” Walter began. “After we worked together, you went on your own headlining tour, then you did some TV here and there. But your big break was a role in a movie you did with Ali Wong about a year after that right?”
“That’s correct. I booked a small part in a film with her after she happened to see me at one of my shows, after that I got a guest starring arc on a sitcom she produced and after that I’ve stayed booked and busy!” Tyler smiled and listed his accomplishments. “But I truly owe it all to you Walt, I wouldn’t be here if you didn’t give me that opening spot on your tour a few years back.”
“Oh, thanks. But you would’ve gotten here eventually.” Walter laughed. “You’re friggin hilarious.”
“Haha! Thank you, but it probably would’ve taken longer on my own.” Tyler responded.
“That’s fair.” Walter saw a producer queue him on to the next topic. “But you’re actually here to talk about a few upcoming projects. Right? The first one being your show tomorrow at the Paramount in Austin, your hometown.”
“That is right Walter,” Tyler looked over to his prompter. “I start filming for my own sitcom later this year, after I make good on a promise I made once. Going back home after all this time seems fitting.”
“And what promise was that?” Walter went off script, knowing Tylers history and knowing what he was talking about.
“A promise I made to someone to sell out a tour someday.” Tyler eyed Amy, this hadn’t been off script. She’d orchestrated Walters questioning to end up here. That Bitch.
“And who did you make that promise to?”
“Well to two people actually.” Tyler cleared his throat. “Myself…and…an old friend.” He finished with a smile.
“I’ll bet I know who that is.” Walter teased.
“I’ll bet you go home without a foot if you spill that tea.” Tyler joked and the set filled with laughter. The two continued the interview and their laughter until the light came on signaling they needed to wrap it up.
After they were done, they said their goodbyes – or ‘see you laters’ rather – and Tyler left the studio.
*****
Tyler stepped onto the stage, into the spotlight and the crowd erupted.
“Thank you!” He said. “Thank you!” He waved to the crowd, getting them to simmer and sit as he began his introduction. “Thank you all for coming, my name is-” He was cut off as he looked into the crowd.
There, in the front row…was Clark Price. Seeing him after all this time brought a beat to his heart. He had focused on work these last few years and now, seeing him after all this time, his heart started to beat again.
“My name is Tyler Harris.” He recovered and began the show.
*****
Tyler stood at the urinal in the bathroom backstage. The show had been amazing. An hour of his best hits, with some new ones thrown in of course. He heard the door open and someone came in. Tylers skin tightened, his hair stood on end. After all this time, he still knew his scent. Knew him by the way he stood in a room.
“You were hilarious.” His voice said…
