Page 21 of Real Tree / Fake Boyfriend

Julien shrugged. “I don’t know. I talked to him?”

Tyler made a face at that. He didn’t really think Walter had anything interesting to say. If Julien thoughthewas boring, he was surprised Julien could stand a conversation with Walter.

“How do you think it’s going?” he decided to ask.

Julien tapped the butt of his cigarette, and white ash rolled down the roof before the wind carried it away. “I’ve never met someone’s parents. I’ve got nothing to compare it to.”

“What do you mean? You’ve never been serious with someone before?” Tyler asked, unable to imagine the hunk beside him being perpetually single like he was. Maybe Julien had a string of pretty girlfriends he kept at arm’s length to keep his relaxed, mysterious vibe. Tyler hated the imaginary girls immediately.

Julien shook his head. “Not really. I guess I’m not the kind of guy you take home to your mother.”

Tyler bit his lip. Despite little tweaks to Julien’s appearance and backstory, he didn’t think it wasterrible. Julien might have had a bit of a rough exterior, but he wasn’t rude or inconsiderate. Even when alone, Jules seemed more soft-spoken and guarded rather than an asshole. “I don’t think that’s true,” Tyler told him.

“Yeah, but I’m not the kind of guyyouwant to bring home to your mom.” Julien gestured with his cigarette.

Tyler imagined what his mom might have said if Julien, the real Julien, the one sitting on the roof smoking a cigarette with ink splattered across his arms, introduced himself as Tyler’s boyfriend.

The thought made him swallow nervously. She would probably be tight-lipped and polite like always, but then she would ask Tyler a thousand questions about Julien’s past and his ‘people.’ She would definitely mention drugs.

Tyler cleared his throat. “I hope you don’t mind that we have to share a bed. Ifit’s too weird, I can sleep on the couch. Maybe I should do that anyway. I know you didn’t sign up for that.”

Julien shook his head, and Tyler caught another glimpse of a smile on his lips as he grasped the cigarette between them. “Your family would be confused.”

“No,” Tyler said. “We can just tell them we’re taking things slow.” He could imagine how weird Julien would feel about sharing a bed with a stranger, a gay stranger.

Julien snorted and shook his head. “Yeah,okay,” he said sardonically.

“What?” Tyler asked.

“They’re not going to believe that,” he flicked more ash from his cigarette. “Like you’d want to take things slow withme.”

Tyler’s eyes widened. He could feel himself blush. “What’s that supposed to mean?” He bit back a grin. “I’m not that easy.”

“No, I bet you aren’t. But I’m sure I could make you that easy, Baby,” Julien drawled, and dammit if he didn’t toss Tyler a wink.

Tyler pressed his lips together and tried to think of a comeback. He doubted his family would buy that he didn’t want to share a bed with his big, beefy boyfriend. Hewantedto share a bed with Julien, like the desperate little creep he was. “Fine.”

“Besides, that bed is huge. You won’t even know I’m there,” Julien added. He stabbed out his cigarette on the shingled roof and then let the butt roll into the gutter before Tyler could think of what to do with it.

Tyler wanted to say something likeoh, I would know you were there, or anything mildly flirtatious. The trouble was that he was terrible at flirting and didn’t even know if Julien was attracted to men. Even if he was, Julien was doing this to get money, not because he would want Tyler in any way. Tyler figured he was too wealthy and nerdy. Too much of a pretty boy for Julien. Flirting for flirting’s sake would be going down a road he didn’t want to take. “Come on. I’m freezing.” He carefully stood up and made for the window.

His foot slipped just as they reached the junction to step back up, and he slid back a little. A strong hand pressed against his lower back, and another came around to grasp his chest.

“Careful.” Julien pulled Tyler’s back flush against him. “I’d rather you didn’t break your neck before I get the rest of my money.”

Any warmth that had spread throughout Tyler’s chest quickly withdrew at the pointed reminder. This was a job, and Tyler still owed him. He was putting on a good show, even without witnesses.

Tyler sighed but was more careful as he returned to his bedroom’s safety. It was warm and inviting, and he hurriedly climbed into his bed and under the covers.

Julien brushed his teeth and came back to slide into the other side of the bed. “What’s on the agenda for tomorrow, Boss?” he asked once Tyler had turned out the light using the remote.

“We’ll go pick out a tree and then decorate some more. There’s this insane Christmas market Mom takes us to every year. It is the best for last-minute shopping, too.”

He realized that Julien spending Christmas with him would mean the man wouldn’t be with his own family, and with a pang of guilt, he looked over at him in thedarkness. “I…uh, I never asked if you were missing out on your Christmas stuff to come here with me.”

Julien shifted, and Tyler could feel his weight and warmth from his side of the bed. It had been an unreasonably long time since he had shared a bed with anyone, and the chill from the air coming into the blankets when Julien moved threw him off, but it wasn’t entirely unwelcome.

“I didn’t have anything planned. It’s fine,” Julien said.

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