Sean pulled out the container of his leftover dinner. “I’ll have this.” To Tristan’s horrified eyes, he plucked a fork from the dish drain and proceeded to chomp away at the cold General Tso’s chicken. “Mm…so good.”
“You’ve got to be kidding.”
“Nope. It’s delicious. Here, try it.”
“Cold Chinese food?” He sputtered at how ridiculous that sounded. “No way.”
“You never know unless you try. I bet you’re afraid because you don’t want to have to fake that you don’t like it when you taste how good it is.” He grinned broadly. “Like the first time you gave head. You had no idea how good a dick was going to feel until you had it in your mouth, and then you wondered how you lived without it for so long.”
Tristan’s jaw dropped, and Sean took that opportunity to shove a big chunk of cold chicken into his mouth. Instinctively, he began to chew. The spicy-sweet flavor exploded on his tongue, and he couldn’t help licking his lips as he swallowed.
“That was an assault.” He eyed the container in Sean’s hand and watched him pop another piece into his mouth.
“Oh, yeah?” Sean snorted around chewing. “Call the cops on me.”
“I’d rather do this.” Tristan grabbed him and kissed him, pushing his tongue inside Sean’s mouth. “Tastes just as good.”
“Well, hello there.” Sean hummed, and they stood kissing in the kitchen until Tristan gathered his wits and let Sean go.
Breathing hard, Tristan took two steps back. Sean’s face was flushed, his eyes heavy-lidded and hazy, and Tristan had to regain his self-control, otherwise he’d drag him to the bedroom. “I-I’m gonna go get dressed for running.”
Quickly changing clothes, Tristan vowed to keep it light. He had it all under control. He’d always been able to walk away.
This time would be no different.
Chapter Fifteen
“Thank you, everyone.” Sean bowed and waved at a little boy in a stroller. “I appreciate your support of the creative arts and hope to see you again.”
The clapping died down, and the small crowd that had gathered murmured among themselves and walked away, but almost every one of them had placed bills or change in his basket. One little girl gave him shy claps, and he blew her a kiss, at which she giggled and ran to her mother, who had been one of the more generous people, having given him a ten-dollar bill.
He took a swig of water and leaned against the wrought-iron gate surrounding Carl Schurz Park. He’d spent the morning on the West Side, then decided to switch to the East as a test to see where he’d pick up followers and make more money. In doing so, he’d discovered an affinity for connecting with young children. Lucky for him, parents were never happier than to throw money at someone to entertain their children for a while and take the burden off their backs.
“Are you here every day?” the young mother whose daughter had clapped for him asked. “I have a group of girlfriends with young kids who’d love to hear you sing.”
“I can be.” If she and her friends would give him ten-dollar bills each time, Sean would show up whenever they wanted. “If you tell me when you might all be here and what you’d like to listen to, I’m happy to oblige.”
“Great. Maybe tomorrow? They get off work at five thirty and always take the kids out for a walk around the neighborhood before dinner. So I guess six-ish?”
Certainly later than he’d like, but if the potential to make money was there, Sean wasn’t about to turn it down. “Sounds good.”
“We were in musical theater together at summer camp as teens. That’s where we met and became friends. We’ve known each other for over twenty years, and our kids are around the same age.”
“That’s nice.” Not having the experience of summer camp, he couldn’t think of anything else to say to her.
“Okay. Well, I’ll see you. And you can sing for us as well. Nothing like being serenaded by a good-looking guy to end the day.” She gave him a wink, and they laughed before she took her daughter’s hand and walked away.
He counted up his stash, and along with his midmorning take, he’d made close to a hundred dollars. While he didn’t anticipate collecting this kind of money every day, if he could keep doing this and get a temporary job somewhere, he’d do okay. He’d have to ask Charlotte if he could stay in the apartment for a little while longer, as there was no way he’d have enough money to qualify for any place to live until he built up his bank account.
He checked his phone. One o’clock. He would grab something quick to eat, then head on over to John Jay Park. Spotting a Halal food truck on the corner of 70th and York, Sean picked up a kebob with rice and carried it with him the few blocks to the park, where he found a bench and started to wolf down his food.
“Guess all that singing makes you hungry, huh?”
Sean’s eyes widened, and he broke out into a delighted smile. “Tristan? What’re you doing here?” His meal forgotten, he’d much rather devour the sexy hunk of a man several feet away from him. Tristan’s hair hung loose, and he wore a white shirt and dark slacks. Holy hell, but he was insanely gorgeous, and Sean licked his lips, remembering the delicious taste of Tristan’s kisses. When Tristan slid his aviators up onto his head, his eyes simmered with a heat that had nothing to do with the weather, and Sean wished he could forget the singing and go home with him.
“I looked at a place on Seventy-third and Lex, and now I have to go to corporate because they called to tell me I’m finally starting my job, but I thought to take a walk first.” As Tristan spoke, he strolled over, and Sean shifted to make room for him to sit. “I once was on the mayor’s security detail, so I figured to check out Gracie Mansion for old times’ sake and then the park. That’s when I heard you.”
“Oh.” His face hot, he gulped water. “How long did you listen?” Why he was embarrassed, he had no idea. He’d sung for so many people, but the thought of Tristan listening made his stomach clench.
