Page 5 of Real Tree / Fake Boyfriend

“He works for the auto body shop I take my car to. He’s good friends with Scott. We’ve been at a few parties together,” Cameron explained. “He’s cool. I swear to God.”

Tyler sensed that Cameron didn’t know Julien well, which only made him more uneasy. “He won’t just take my money and fuck off, will he?”

Cam shook his head. “Noway. Besides, I know where he works, so you’re good.” He leaned on the bar to get the bartender’s attention and ordered them both another round.

Tyler didn’t think he needed any more beer tonight. He had already made too many questionable choices. “This is going to be a disaster.”

“Well, you can always change your mind and, you know, not lie to your family,” Cameron offered.

Tyler glared at him, recalling the sad state of Thanksgiving. Even Eliza was more interested in her phone than talking to him. He’d spent half the meal in complete silence. He grimaced.

“Or not,” Cam added.

Tyler nodded. “Or not.” Lying to his family was definitely the lesser of the two evils. Maybe he would even get away from the kids’ table this Christmas.

Chapter 3

Julien

Julien didn’t know what had gone through his mind when he agreed to the deal with Tyler. He looked at his cracked phone screen with a text from Lou Rossi reminding him to pay up by the day after Christmas or else.

The‘or else’was a threat that loomed in the distance but had gotten closer and closer for years. Now the deadline was up, and Julien was too deep in shit with the Rossi family to even think it was an empty threat.

Lou Rossi had him by the balls for years. Julien made the mistake of borrowing twenty grand from Lou ten years ago, and he paid for it every day of his life. He did his best to make timely payments and even agreed to move stolen car parts for the family through the auto body shop where he worked. But now, the final payment was due, and Julien didn’t have the money.

Julien could not figure out how to come up with the money until he heard Cameron Malloy talking to his friend about hiring someone for a fake holiday date.

He hadn’t thought he would get eight thousand. However, he didn’t need eight. If he could get the five thousand he owed Rossi, Julien would at least be safe from jail, losing his finger, or whatever terrible thing Rossi planned for him if he didn’t pay.

He tried not to think about that as he went to Tyler’s apartment. He shoved his hands into the pockets of his leather jacket as he steeled himself from the cold Pennsylvania air.

Tyler lived in a nice area, where Julien’s grease-stained jeans made him feel like he stuck out, even though no one paid attention.

The streets gave way to nicely decorated structures covered with garlands and wreaths. The jingle of bells caught Julien’s attention as charity workers stood outside near the shops. The workers asked for small donations to help feed and shelter those in need. Julien’s apartment had a guy like that outside. He was named Steve and asked for change tobuy forties after a long piss on the stoop. Steve was a good guy.

Tyler lived in a big, historic building redone with lavish apartments. They probably cost more than Julien wanted to think about. At least he wasn’t taking Ty for all he was worth if he could afford this.

The lobby was furnished with hardwood and glossy tile. Signs pointed out recreation centers, game rooms, and other shared spaces. He rechecked his phone to verify the room and headed in what he hoped was the right direction.

A doorman sitting at the front desk gave him a suspicious glance, but Julien kept walking as if he knew exactly where to go. He nodded to the doorman and walked up the stairs without looking back to see if the guy was still watching. Jules probably should have stopped and explained what he was doing there but couldn’t be bothered.

When he got to the right door, he knocked. With any luck, Julien would have half of the money to give to Rossi today. It would take some heat off him. All he had to do was pretend to be someone’s boyfriend. It was way less shady than some other options Julien had considered.He had done too many illegal things because of Rossi. He wanted to start putting that behind him as soon as possible.

Tyler opened the door, wearing a pair of thick-rimmed glasses he hadn’t worn last night and an oversized sweater in a cream color. His dark brown hair was slightly messy. He didn’t have shoes on, just polka-dot socks in a ridiculous purple, which didn’t go with the rest of his outfit.

He genuinely looked surprised to see Julien, which fed into some of the doubts. “You came.” Tyler sounded equally as astonished as he looked. His bright blue eyes blinked owlishly behind the lenses.

“You wear glasses?” Julien asked. He resisted the urge to push them up on the bridge of Tyler’s slender nose that they had slid down.

Jules stepped into the apartment. It had a dark gray wooden floor and walls with exposed brick and big windows, which brought light into the space, even this late in the afternoon.

“Uh, yeah?” Tyler pushed his glasses up, and Julien watched the motion, distracted momentarily. “I had my contacts in last night.” Tyler stepped down the hall, and when Julien made to follow him, Tyler spun around quickly. “Oh, right,no shoes inside. You can leave them right there.” Tyler gestured to a rack with a few pairs of sneakers, dressy-looking shoes, and those stupid boat shoes that guys wore without socks. “Sorry,” he tacked on as if he had inconvenienced Julien.

Julien frowned but toed off his boots and placed them on the rack. Was he some neat freak? Not that Julien was messy, but as a mechanic, all the clothes he owned had a layer of filth and grease. He pulled his jacket off. The heat was cranked way higher than Julien would ever dare for fear of the bill. After the long trek, he worried he'd sweat through his shirt.

Tyler held his hand out for the jacket and stowed it away in a hallway closet. Then, proceeded to lead Julien into the living space.

There was an island counter with two bar stools in the middle of the room, separating the kitchen from the rest of the space. A small plant sat beside a shallow bowl filled with oranges on the island.

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