Page 22 of Real Tree / Fake Boyfriend

Tyler relaxed against the pillow and curled up again. “Good. I would have felt bad.”

“I don’t know why you need to lie to your family, you know? They’re all pretty nice. You made them sound awful before we got here.”

Tyler’s brow furrowed as he burrowed deeper into the blankets. “They’re not awful. They’re just caught up with being perfect. I feel like sometimes I don’t fit in. They all have these perfect, happy relationships and look at me like some black sheep. I’m already the odd one out because I’m gay, but I’m also single and completelyalone, so it makes it even worse.”

Everyone in his family had always married young, had babies, and started that perfect American dream family. His family didn’t care that he was gay, but he knew that it detracted from that suburban dream they all aimed for.

“Maybe they’re just worried about you,” Julien pointed out.

He felt the same frustration when Hailey told him she and Mom and Cece had gossiped about him being sad and single. “That’s the problem. They shouldn’t have to worry about me. I work or study all the time. I don’t have time to find someone who isn’t going to ghost me after the first date.” He didn’t need this all pointed out to him. He knew they were worried. They hadsaidthey were concerned, and that was the problem. Tyler sounded bitter even to his own ears.

If they are worried, how am I supposed to feel?

Julien huffed and turned away from Tyler. “Yeah. It must be so hard having a family that cares about you.”

Tyler managed to bite his tongue. He realized he knew nothing about Julien, his family, or anything. Julien was kind of just a mystery to him, which was not great whendeciding to bring someone to your family’s home for Christmas, but now he started to get curious.

Julien had no plans and seemed okay with flying a few states over to spend the holidays. Maybe he wasn’t close with his family. Or perhaps he didn’t really have any. Tyler debated for a long time, stewing in annoyance at himself, his family, and Julien before finally speaking up. “So, what’s your family like?” he asked.

But the soft breaths from Julien’s side of the bed and the lack of response told Tyler that Julien had quickly fallen asleep.

Tyler didn’t have the same luxury of falling asleep fast, and he mulled over his plan and miserable life for a while before sleep finally caught up to him.

Chapter 10

Tyler

When he woke up the following day, the first thing Tyler noticed was how hot he was. The next thing he noticed was the strong, tattooed arm draped over him possessively.

His sleep-sluggish mind quickly kicked into gear.

Julien had rolled over in the night and accidentally ended up cuddling him. Which was mortifying, but Tyler hadn’t been the one to octopus all over the other man. At least he could rest easy knowing that the mortification was not to be his. He did not claim it.

“Jules?” Tyler tried to move out of the tight grip. But the more he moved, the tighter Julien’s hold became. He felt Julien’s face nuzzle into the back of his neck, and Tyler tried to suppress a shiver at the scrape of facial hair against his nape. It sent warm waves of heat down his spine, coiling low in his belly.

He shifted to try and find some way to escape. His back pressed up against Julien, and he could feel the very distinct press ofsomethingthick and hard against his ass.

“Julien,” he hissed, louder this time. He patted Julien’s arm to try to get out of this. He was starting to claim some mortification, if only because his stiff dick throbbed hopefully between his legs.

Julien smelled intoxicating, like smoke, leather, and the soft scent of sleep. His body was warm, and the veins on his forearms and the swirls of black ink over his tanned skin made Tyler’s mouth water. His teeth ached with the insane desire to bite him.

I have to get out of here.

“Fuck. Five more minutes,” Julien finally mumbled. He pulled Tyler even closer, nuzzling him again.

Tyler was almost sure he felt a distinct movement in Julien’s hip as he pressed tighter against his ass. His cock twitched with a traitorous excitement.

Tyler decided that if he died, at least this was an excellent way to go, and his body relaxed into it. Then, Julien shiftedbehind him, and the strong arm pulled away as the other man rolled onto his back.

“Sorry,” he groaned and rubbed his eyes.

Tyler sat up so fast that the pillow shot off the bed. “I did not take you for a cuddler,” he said, hoping to diffuse awkwardness. His face was warm, and he probably resembled a strawberry.

Play it cool.

“I didn’t know I was either,” Julien admitted. “Sorry,” He repeated and sat up, resting his elbows on bent knees.

Tyler looked at the door to his bathroom and wondered if his morning wood would be unbelievably noticeable on the walk there or if he could manage to hide it. It wasn’t like it had anything to do with Julien, and he wouldn’t think it did,would he?

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