Page 36 of Finding Michael

“Smart ass.” Tristan kissed him hard on the lips. “You need to trust me. I know it’s not your forte. We’ve both kept secrets, but I can’t do this alone. I can’t manage my uncle’s stuff, write this book and fall for you all by myself. My last boyfriend would disagree with me, but I’m the boyfriend type. I like being in a relationship. I need the stability and the warm body beside me.”

Michael stared at him. Did Tristan realize what he’d said? Stability and a warm body… He made being together sound so…bland. “Then why aren’t you in a relationship? Not one with me.”

“My last boyfriend was a self-possessed ass?” Tristan laughed, then sobered. “No, that’s not fair. My ex believed monogamy was a foul word. He slept with anyone who’d drop their pants for him. He calls me every so often for money.”

“Ah.” He’d known a few guys like that and had dodged the bullet. He threaded his belt through the loops. “I take it you don’t give in to him?” At least he hoped not.

“Nah, I don’t. My aunt scared him off. She’s more of a social climber than he is and she’s got money, too. She married into it.” Tristan folded his arms. “Money seems to be the root of the problems in my family. They have it and they want more. They’ll lie and cheat to get it, too.”

“Then you must live a complicated life.” Michael ducked away from Tristan and put his socks on. “My life is so much less complicated. My entanglements involved your uncle, then a man named Kevin, and Barry—whom you met. But not all at the same time and never for money.” He scooped his watch up and clicked it around his wrist.

Tristan stilled Michael’s hands. “Money won’t help everything and speaking of my uncle… He endowed a hundred grand to the school and another hundred grand for the creation of a center for the LGBT community in Sullavan.”

Michael froze. “A what?” He’d had no idea. Al hadn’t been out and hadn’t wanted anyone to even think he might be gay. “How’d he know we needed a center or that there would be enough individuals to support it existing?”

“All I gleaned from the paperwork was that he wanted a place where people could go to feel included. A place to hang out, crash…get help, fed.” Tristan shrugged. “I think it’s noble.”

“It is.” Michael swayed into Tristan. “I wonder what possessed him to do it, though.”

“No clue.” Tristan stuffed his hands into Michael’s front pockets. “I don’t know how to start something like a center. I know counselors in New York and I can convince at least one to come here for support. But where do I get the stuff or the building? I’m clueless.”

“You’re not.” Michael massaged his temple, but remained close to Tristan. He had to think. “There are a few larger houses on the south end of town that are empty. Old Victorian digs. You could probably rent one or buy it cheap and turn it into a home. Hell, if you get the people staying there to work on rehabbing the house, it’d make it more important to them. I’ve got a friend who is a contractor and can offer advice.”

“Would you help?”

“I’m at the library most of the time.” But he’d do what he could. He wanted to spend time with Tristan. “But how are you going to do this? You’re going back to New York.”

“I’m begging.” Tristan tipped his head to the side and grinned. “Pleading.”

“I’m only one guy, Tris. I have a full-time job. I want to help you, but I don’t know if I can juggle it.” Or if he could risk getting his heart broken.Christ.Getting involved with Tristan in the first place was bad. Tristan would leave. Men didn’t stick around in his life. What would he do when Tristan went back to New York? He’d carry on, sure, but he wouldn’t be the same. He’d have to look at yet another reminder of a failed love when he looked at the house…even if the relationship hadn’t failed yet.Fucking balls.

“Try. For me.” Tristan brushed his nose along Michael’s. “I wouldn’t ask if I didn’t think you and I could be dynamic with this.”

“But—”Dynamic? Epic…Michael’s resolve melted a little. He wanted to be loved. Cherished. What Tristan offered was too damn intoxicating.

“You called me Tris. No one calls me that—no one except my uncle.” Tristan caged Michael in his arms. “I don’t understand the connection but I feel it. I’m supposed to be here in Sullavan and with you. We’re supposed to do this.” He rested his forehead on Michael’s. “If we recruit a couple of my New York contacts and get people in to help us on a volunteer basis, you won’t be quite so needed at the house…just at my house.”

“You’ve got huge ideas…and a book to write. How areyougoing to manage it all?” Michael asked. “Plus, you have that stalker.”

“And a house to sort out, a relationship I’m trying to start…” Tristan sighed. “We’ll do it. We’re a great team. You sort, shelve and lend the books and I’ll write them. We’ll make this house thing my uncle wanted a reality and fuck my stalker. I write for me, not him or her.”

“Tristan.”

His eyes flashed. “Call me Tris. I love it when you say my name.”

“Tris.” Michael bowed his head. “I can’t believe I’m saying this, but okay.”

“Yes?” Tristan tipped Michael’s gaze. “Really?”

“But if we do all of what you want, I have a condition.” He swallowed against the lump in his throat. He had no idea how Tristan would take his request. “I want this—whatever we’ve started between us—to be just us.” He couldn’t handle knowing Tristan was seeing Jamie on the side. “Tell me if you don’t want to be monogamous. I’m not sleeping with you if you’re even thinking of sleeping around.”

“Are you getting territorial?” The fire in Tristan’s eyes flared and his smile widened. “Twinging with jealousy?”

“Maybe.”Fuck.“I am a one-man kind of guy.”

“Good. I am, too.” Tristan dragged Michael to the bed and tumbled backward with Michael on top of him. “I finally wore you down enough to be with me. I’m not planning on screwing that up by splitting my time with someone else.”

“And you’re not wigged out by my past?” Michael straddled Tristan’s legs. “Not a bit?”

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