Page 26 of Finding Michael

“Tristan.” Why did Tristan insist on wanting him there? Things were already awkward with Jamie waiting on the porch. He didn’t have to make it worse.

“I’m not with Jamie and, if it wasn’t pretty clear before, I like you.” He hooked his fingers in Michael’s belt loops. “I like youa lot.”

“You don’t know me.” And once he found out, he’d run the other way.

“I know enough.” Tristan crowded Michael against the side of his car. “You’re a good guy. You’re sweet and don’t expect anything from me. I want to be with you. I want to talk about books and writing, then maybe finish what was started in the kitchen. You have no idea how refreshing it is to find someone who doesn’t care about my money.”

His money?“Tristan.” Part of him wanted to stay, but his common sense won out. He had to get the hell out of there.

“Give me tomorrow night. Yes? I’ll cook and we’ll have a good night together,” Tristan said. He kissed Michael. “I can’t get enough of you.”

He paused. Someone liked him. A guy. A hot one. Why was he second-guessing the attraction? Because he had secrets. “I’m not a good guy.”

“You’re a great one.” Tristan grinned.

“Tristan.” He’d never get through to Tristan without telling the truth.

“You can’t say anything that’ll make me like you less.”

Want to bet? “I slept with Al.” He hadn’t meant to let that slip, but now that he had, he couldn’t take the words back. He hated to admit he felt relieved, too.

Tristan let go of Michael. His eyes widened and his lips parted. “What?”

“I did. The first summer I came to Sullavan. I met him in May and by September it was over, but we were together.” He met Tristan’s gaze. “You’re right. I don’t want anything from you. No money or whatever. I like you and I hope you can like me again sometime, but I understand if you don’t. I’m pretty sure you deserve better than me, too. That’s why I didn’t want to get involved in the first place. I had a feeling you’d be disgusted by me in the end.”

Tristan didn’t speak. He balled his hands and swept his gaze over Michael.

“I’ll go,” Michael whispered. He’d done enough damage. He left Tristan and zipped down the driveway. His heart broke. Yes, he didn’t know Tristan well, but he liked him so much. No guy would ever want to be with a man who’d also been with a member of the guy’s family—especially with a forty-year age difference. He drove away from the house and didn’t look back. He couldn’t. His stomach churned. His truth kept coming back to bite him in the ass. First Barry hated that he’d been with someone so old and now Tristan would be disgusted because of who Michael’s lover had been.

He’d be better off if he stopped trying to find someone. He swung by the library long enough to ensure the doors were locked, then headed home. Once he reached his ranch house, he turned off his phone. He parked in the garage and went inside. He flopped onto the bed and stared at the ceiling.Christ.He was acting like an angst-ridden twenty-something. Why hadn’t he seen the potential problems and done something about them? Why hadn’t he stopped things with Tristan before everything had gone out of control?Because I like Tristan.

Now he had no choice but to accept his fate and lose his chance with Tristan.Damn it.

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