Page 38 of Finding Michael

“Fuck you very much.”The jerk.

“What is with you?” Cody asked. “I called the apartment. Like five times I called. Dennis took the messages. He claimed he was letting you know I wanted to talk to you.” His voice cracked. “Are you avoiding me?”

“Not exactly.” He hadn’t heard from Dennis other than two emails, which wasn’t out of the ordinary for him, but nothing in the wording had mentioned anything about Cody. “I’ve been busy.” He jotted down a note to call Dennis. He’d been an asshole and hadn’t even checked in. For all he knew, Dennis didn’t care. But there was a chance he did and he deserved an update. Tristan would call him later.

“Who are you doing?”

“Cody.” Jesus, the man drove him crazy.

“You found someone named Cody? I bet that’s a lot easier in bed,” Cody snapped. “Does he like hearing his name shouted out, too?”

He pinched the bridge of his nose. “No, and his name isn’t Cody. Look, my uncle passed away and left his house to me. I’m in charge of going through his stuff and it’s taking time.”

“Oh? Stuff?”

He should’ve known Cody’s latent weaselness would come out. If the man thought he smelled a chance to make money, he’d pounce. “It’s a farmhouse in rural Ohio and there aren’t any antiques here. There’s really nothing of great monetary value other than the house and I’m not selling it, so don’t get any ideas.” Truth be told, he had no idea what his uncle had had, but he wasn’t giving any of it to a former flame looking to make an easy buck.

“Oh.”

Was that Cody’s spirit crashing?Good.Tristan crossed his ankles. “Cody, I’m up to my eyeballs sorting through stuff, tossing other things and trying to write.”

“Dennis never said anything about an uncle. He’s not there? He’s still at the apartment?”

“Yes, he’s at the apartment, so don’t try to break in.” He bit back a groan. “Look, when I get back to New York, we’ll hang out.” The key word should’ve been if. He hadn’t planned on staying in the Big Apple. Now that he had an actual house to live in, rather than an apartment, he kind of wanted to put down roots. Why stay somewhere he couldn’t keep when he could do whatever his heart desired at the house?

“Yeah? We haven’t clubbed in a long time.” Cody laughed. “I’m holding you to that. The moment you’re back, we’re going out. I miss you.”

“Sure.” Cody missed him? Since when?

“I mean it. I’ve been lonely without you. No one understands me like you and no one else will give me shit for doing shit,” Cody said. “I like when you hold me accountable.”

Ah, so Cody wanted a parent-figure. Yeah, fuck no.“I’m sure you’ll find someone who can do all of that better than I ever did.”

“Maybe.” Cody paused. “So where in assfuck Ohio are you?”

Assfuck…wonderful.“Sullavan.”

“Never heard of it.”

“It’s not a very big place. It’s interesting, though.” He closed his eyes and grinned. Thinking about the town pleased him. The cast of characters would feature in the next two books at least.

“Just stop. I don’t want one of your small-town history stories. You get boring and teacher-y. I hate it,” Cody said. “Stick to writing that shit down instead of telling me.”

“Sorry.” He sighed, then opened his eyes. “Look, I need to go. I’ve got a schedule going and I should be writing. I’m already behind.”

“Come home.”

“What?”

“You heard me,” Cody said. “Come home. You don’t belong in a hick town. You’re the kind of guy who thrives on action. What really happens in Solomon? A car accident? Critters being run over in the street? Flowers growing?”

“Wow. You’ve never been outside of New York, have you?” He shook his head. “Never mind. The town is Sullavan and yes, it’s a slower pace. People can walk from one end of Sullavan to the other. I don’t remember seeing any splattered animals or car accidents. It’s just a nice, peaceful place to be.”

“You’ll get bored,” Cody said. “I know you.”

Funny. He’d just heard that from Michael, too. “You never know.”

“How about I come there?”

“Nah.You’dbe the bored one.” Besides, he didn’t want his ex anywhere close to Michael. He liked his insulated existence with his new beau.

“Probably. I have the attention span of a gnat.” Cody paused again. “Just come home. Please?”

A shadow darkened the kitchen door. Tristan tensed, then sat up straight. “I have to go. Someone’s here.” He didn’t bother to say goodbye. Instead, he hung up and clutched the phone in his hand. Only a few people knew he was there. Who’d be visiting him? He jumped up from his seat. “Hello?”

The door opened and Jamie held onto the handle. “Hi.”

Tristan blew out a ragged breath. “Damn it.”

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