"Oh my gosh! Yes, please!" Dena said as she covered her mouth with her hand. 

Tim pulled out his phone and texted Jenika. "They're going to meet us at the back of the theater." 

Dena stood to follow to Tim when she glanced in the mirror. "Oh good heavens. Look at me. I can't see other people looking like this. I hate flying. Give me a second to freshen up."

Tim rolled his eyes at his mother; he thought she looked great. "I'll just wait outside."

Adam was walking by just as Tim stepped out and shut the door. He saw Tim's puffy eyes and was just about to comment when he noticed his reddening cheek. "What the hell?" he said as he moved to get a closer look at Tim's face. Adam reached out to caress Tim's bruising cheek.

Tim just shook his head at Adam and turned away from his touch. Adam dropped his hand, looked longingly at Tim, and walked away. Adam threw himself on the couch in the bus and proceeded to sulk. He didn't start playing a game, he didn't pull out his phone, he just lay there in silence staring at the ceiling.

Adam stopped Austin as he walked by "Hey, you might want to tell Olena she's going to need extra time and make-up for Tim tonight."

Austin looked confused "What? Why?"

"Just tell her." Adam huffed out as he turned his back to Austin.

Dena had finished primping and Tim was leading her to meet her grandson. He saw Jenika and TJ sitting in the back row of seats waiting for them. He turned to say something to his mother when he realized she had stopped walking a few steps back. He turned and went back to her. "Momma? Are you okay?"

Dena had tears in her eyes and her hand over her heart. "He just looks so much like you. It's like I was just taken back 30 years." Dena got her feet moving again and wiped her tears.

Jenika and TJ stood as they saw Tim and Dena approaching. Jenika eyed Tim's cheek and frowned at him. Tim just smiled as he made introductions, "Momma, this is Jenika Marion and her son TJ." He turned towards his mother "Jenika. TJ. This is my mother, Dena Foust." 

Dena and Jenika smiled and shook hands politely. TJ shook Dena's hand "It's a pleasure to meet you Mrs. Foust." 

"Oh, how sweet." Dena gushed "The pleasure is all mine". She turned to Tim with a question in her eyes. He nodded his head at her.

Dena turned her attention back to TJ, "I know we just met but we don't need to be so formal. You can call me Ms. Dena... or... grandma, whenever you feel comfortable with it."

A sadness flashed in TJ's eyes and Dena suddenly felt like she had done something wrong. Jenika gave TJ a quick hug while Tim told Dena that he would explain the situation later.

Tim knew that the theater would be getting loud soon so he led everyone to the green room backstage to get to know one another. Once everyone was chatting and getting along Tim headed for the bus to find some ice for his cheek.

Adam glanced out the window and saw Tim headed for the bus. He had managed to ignore Austin and his wheedling and he didn't feel like talking to Tim right now either. Adam jumped off the couch and ran to the bathroom. He locked the door and kept the lights off.

Tim grabbed an ice pack and took a quick look around the bus. Austin told him that Adam was here but he must have left. He hated what he was doing to Adam but he certainly couldn't tell his mom about their relationship now. Not after the way she reacted to his news earlier today. 

Adam waited in the dark for quite awhile. He wanted to be sure that Tim was gone before he came out. Adam went straight to his dressing room and stayed there until just minutes before he was needed for sound check. 

The VIP sessions went well; they kept Adam's mind occupied and off of Tim. Before the show and during intermission Adam stayed with the group but was quieter than normal and made sure to be separated from Tim. He couldn't bring himself to stand so close to Tim without being able to touch him.

After the show the group went out for a late dinner. The rest of the guys wanted to catch up with Dena. Again, Adam sat in the furthest seat away from Tim and kept to himself while keeping enough of an ear on the conversation that he could answer if asked a question. He watched as everyone laughed and had a good time. 

Adam had finished eating and headed for the bathroom and then outside to get some air. He stood outside enjoying the quiet and watched the group through the window. Everyone was chatting and laughing and enjoying themselves. He just wasn't in the mood right now.

When TJ started yawning the group realized how late it was and that they needed to head back to the bus. Rob pulled out his phone to call for a Lyft. He'd had a few drinks and wasn't thinking clearly "How many of us are there again?" He chuckled.

Tim looked around to do a quick head count "There are 10 of us right? Wait I only count 9." He looked to Jenika "Aren't there 10?"

Jenika looked around too "I only count 9 too. Are we missing someone?"

Luke looked around "There should be 10. Where's Adam?"

Nate spoke up first "Probably in the bathroom. I'll grab him."

A few minutes later Nate rejoined the group "He's not here? He wasn't in the bathroom"

"He might be outside" Austin said as he headed for the door. "You know he can only deal with crazy for so long".  The group followed him out but didn't see Adam anywhere. 

"Where the hell could he be?" Chance muttered to himself, starting to worry about Adam.

To be continued...

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