Page 10 of Finding Michael

“I’m asking that patron out.” Lauren wriggled her eyebrows and nodded to Tristan. “He doesn’t know it yet, but he’s about to meet his soul mate. I know I’ve met mine.”

Dicey rolled her eyes. “He’s gay.” She flattened her palms on the counter. “I know because I saw him this morning at the diner with Barry. Barry kissed him and he didn’t appear to be pulling away.”

Michael’s heart sank.Kissing Barry. Damn.He should’ve known his ex-boyfriend couldn’t keep his hands off the newcomer to town. Not that Michael could do much about the situation or change it. If they were attracted to each other, then that was that. Besides, Tristan wasn’t obliged to him or anyone else and Michael would have to keep that in mind when they went to dinner later. Better to keep his heart locked away rather than consider pairing up with the handsome writer.

“Oh well,” she said. “It’s five minutes to one. We’re free.”

He shook his head. “No, we’re not.” He hadn’t realized the hours had passed. He’d been too engrossed in his work and he hadn’t gone out to the shed to sort books.Damn.He focused on Dicey. “Hon, we have to wait until it’s actually five after one and all of the patrons are out.”

“We’ve only got one left and that’s Tristan. He doesn’t really count.” She stuck out her bottom lip. For being in her sixties, she could sure act like a belligerent teenager. “Come on. You know you want to go on that walk with him.”

“That’s not the point.” He had a duty to the people of Sullavan and himself. If he started cutting corners in one place, he’d do it in others and that wouldn’t work with his inner idiosyncrasies. “Shut the computers down, but don’t you dare lock that door until the stroke of one.”

“I knew you’d see things my way.” She bounced over to the row of computers and touched Tristan’s shoulder along the way. He glanced up, then over at Michael. His mouth curled in a half-smile.

Oh boy.Michael logged out of his computer, then shut it down. Once the clock hit one-oh-five, he locked the doors. No one could get in, but the three of them could leave. He put the last of the checked-in books on the cart to be shelved, then gathered his tablet and phone into his messenger bag. “Ready?”

Dicey nodded. “Just got to get my purse.” She grinned, then sashayed around him. “Have a good afternoon, gentlemen. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.” She laughed. “Nah, do whatever you want. It’s your life.” She left the library and continued to chuckle while the door shut.

Michael puffed out a long breath. “So.”

Tristan shut the book he’d had open, then turned to Michael. “So.”

“I’m ready whenever you are.” Michael slung his bag across his body. “Lights off and we’re out of here.”

“Great.” Tristan left the library first and waited on the sidewalk.

Michael checked the doors, then did his quick jaunt around the building to ensure everything was okay from the outside. He joined Tristan by the book drop. Instead of leaving, he stayed put. “I need to level with you.”

“You’re straight?” Tristan’s eyebrows rose. “Right? You and Molly have a thing going?”

“Ah…no?” He frowned. Molly was his friend. Besides, hadn’t he made it pretty clear he’d been with Barry?

“You’re bi. That’s cool. I don’t mind. I dated this guy in Yonkers who was bi. He had the craziest sex life.” Tristan whistled. “Like a new chick every night and had three guys on the side. It didn’t last that long, but still.”

“Ah. Okay. You know that’s a load of bullshit. Just because someone is bi doesn’t mean they’re any looser than anyone else. You’re assuming he is.” Tristan would be a handful. “But he’s not my business. What I was trying to say was we should discuss the expectations of the walk.”

Tristan froze.

Didn’t he want to tour the town? Or had he overstepped his boundaries by correcting Tristan? “What did you want from me?” Michael gripped the strap of his bag. “I’m not the guy who does everyone who passes through Sullavan. If you want that, then find Barry. He’ll kneel for anyone. I’m game for dinner and to be friends, but I have this distinct feeling you’re going to fly by next week, so I’d rather not get hyper-involved. But while we’re on the subject, yes, I’m gay. Not bi, not confused. Gay and I’m out. I’m one of the few guys in this town who is.”

“That’s great to know.”

He expected Tristan to walk then and there. Instead, Tristan rocked on his heels. “I’m gay, too. I don’t want a fly-by-night affair.” He chuckled. “I just wanted a friend and someone who knows Sullavan to guide me. I wouldn’t turn down a kiss or two, but I don’t expect you to run off to New York with me. Yeah, I’m not sticking around. You got me there.”

At least he knew the truth. He sighed. “That’s settled. Where do you want to go and what do you want to know?”

“Anything and everything. I set my books in small towns and this one has been an inspiration, but I’m thinking there’s more to Sullavan than meets the eye.” Tristan fell into step beside Michael. “I’m not talking backdoor abortions or illegal gambling houses. Just…the cool things about town that are fascinating.”

Cool and interesting were his specialties. Michael nodded toward the main road. “When Sullavan was founded…rather, before it was founded, the three-hundred-fifty acres belonged to Edgar Sullavan. He’d purchased it in 1800. He’d inherited money from his mother’s side of the family and used it to buy the land.” He pointed to the town square. “When we get up to the square, you can see the outline in the grass as to where his house stood. It burned down in 1810. In 1803, when Ohio became a state, people were encouraged to settle here, but the Sullavan area had a lot of poverty. Since he had the land and wasn’t really using it—he wasn’t farming or anything—he sold off two-acre parcels. But since he was selling his property off, he decided to turn it into a town.” He stopped at the square with Tristan. “See, there’s the foundation of the house.”

Tristan snapped a few pictures, then crouched to touch the remaining stones. “This was a big house.”

“For one guy, even, yeah. He had four servants and their families living with him.” Michael leaned on the bench in front of where the house had stood. “He might have seemed stingy, making those people pay for the land, but he wasn’t. He charged a whole dollar for each parcel.” He pointed to the north, then south. “This road isn’t Church Street for nothing. Every church in the village is on this street. Three to the north and four to the south. That was part of Sullavan’s plan. He wanted the shops on Main Street and the churches on Church Street.”

“Handy.” Tristan stood, then stretched. “Makes sense then, why the B&B and car dealership are next to each other.”

“There aren’t any businesses in town that aren’t on Main Street.” He turned around. “North end of this circle is the school quadrant. The school house that was on that property was moved to where it is now so the larger elementary building could take its place.”

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