“I wasn’t thinking anything, but that would seem the logical reason to go see an ex.”
“No. You’re wrong.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.” Frustrated, Sean struggled to explain himself. “As I expected, he hadn’t changed at all. It was late in the afternoon, yet he was still in bed. It was obvious he’d been partying hard. And when he grabbed me again—”
“Whoa, what the hell do you mean, again?” Tristan’s eyes blazed with fury, and Sean was reminded of the snarling-lion tattoo on his side. “He hurt you before? And you went to him alone?”
“It was only once,” Sean answered, humiliated now that Tristan had put the words in the air. “He didn’t hit me or anything.”
“Tell me what happened. Please,” Tristan whispered, and Sean blinked rapidly.
“The night we broke up, he got mad I wouldn’t take him back, and he pushed me so hard, I hit my head against the wall. He begged me to forgive him, but I haven’t been able to.”
“So why see him today?” There was such tenderness instead of Tristan’s normal growl, it almost made Sean feel worse.
“To let him know it was really over and he should stop messaging me and leave me alone for good.” Tristan’s gaze jerked to his, and Sean managed a small smile. “I guess I’m naïve.”
“Don’t think like that. People deal with things differently. And you made the right choice. You walked away. That took a lot of strength.”
“Yeah? Then why do I feel so stupid for going there?”
“It was an emotional day, and emotions can make us do things we might’ve never thought we’d do.” He paused. “Like go to a bar and hide in the corner and not speak to anyone.”
Oh, God. Tristan’s confession had him tied up in knots. He gripped the bottle. “You never answered my question. Did you take that apartment?”
“No.”
“Why?”
Several moments passed before Tristan answered, long enough that Sean came up with all these scenarios in his head—the monthly payments would be too much, Tristan figured it would be too far from his office. Even a crazy thought that he couldn’t get his favorite health food.
“Because at the time it was more important to me to find out why you ran away.”
Well, damn. That reason was not what he’d expected, yet nothing anyone had ever said had made him feel as good as what Tristan had just told him. Including Chad saying he loved him, because pretending obviously came easily to him.
Not to Tristan. He was a man of few words, and he carefully chose the ones he did use. He meant what he said.
“Why?”
Maybe some of Tristan’s courage was rubbing off on him, because when the hell had he gotten so brave? He’d never been the type to push for answers.
Tristan huffed out a breath. “I’m not sure. All I know was that I didn’t like how you left.”
“I’ll admit it was childish, but I guess I’m tired of hearing how unimportant I am.”
“Is that what you think?” Tristan shifted nearer, but in his agitated state, Sean couldn’t even appreciate his closeness. It was his childhood all over again. Never really wanted…getting bounced from home to home…
“It’s always been that way. My parents didn’t want me, and none of the guys I’ve been with stayed. The only steady person is Charlotte, and she’ll probably get sick of me one day. Just for once, I’d like someone to be afraid of losing me.” Embarrassed at his outburst, Sean pasted a smile on his face. “Sorry. That was a lot to handle.”
Tristan’s expression grew tender. “I think there’s more you haven’t said. I don’t think it was nearly enough.”
Chapter Fourteen
Listening to Sean, Tristan’s anger grew exponentially at how cavalierly he’d been treated by those who were supposed to care for him. He, better than anyone, understood how someone’s opinions of you could do the most damage.
Why are we so unwilling to accept the good in ourselves, yet agree so readily about the bad?
