“Please, just listen to me.” Tristan’s sincerity won out.
“Fine. Okay.”
Tristan’s fingers laced tight together before he spoke. “Most important, I’m not regretting a second of what happened. I don’t want you to think that, so let me put that out there first.”
Why didn’t that make him feel better? He waited for the shoe to drop because when it came to his life, it always did.
Tristan continued. “Even so, it complicates things between us. I’m going to be moving out and starting a new job…and you are as well.”
With each word, Sean died a little inside. Because despite Tristan not regretting the incredible sex, it was clear he didn’t want it to hold him back or, even worse, make him feel obligated to Sean.
“I know you’re not into relationships, but guess what? I can handle it. I can handle more than you think.”
Tristan frowned, his brow furrowed. “But—”
Sean stopped him, unwilling to hear the we-can-still-be-friends speech. “No, I’m serious. It’s all good. We hooked up, had a great time, but no strings, and you’re free to live your life and move on, and I am too.”
“Can you please shut up? Or do I have to make a scene and kiss you on the train to make you stop talking?”
“Are you making another joke?” Sean peered over Tristan’s shoulder. “What have you done with Tristan McGrumpypants?”
“God, you’re annoying.” The train slowed. “I know we can’t have a big conversation now, but you said I’m free to live my life and move on.” Tristan’s finger skimmed over Sean’s cheek for a second. “What if I don’t want to?”
“What?”
The announcement crackled over the loudspeaker: “This station is Locust Valley.” The train eased into the station.
“Dammit.” Sean cursed the fact that for once the LIRR was on time. “We are definitely continuing this conversation when we get back to the apartment.”
Tristan’s eyes twinkled. “Whatever you say. You’re the boss.”
Chapter Eighteen
Ray pressed a beer into Tristan’s hand. “Come with me.”
Tristan followed him into the house, leaving everyone else in the backyard, but craned his neck to see where Sean was. The moment they’d arrived, Sean had been pulled into the crowd of kids and was entertaining them on the grass, holding them enraptured with songs from their favorite Disney movies. Ray settled into a club chair and gestured for him to take the love seat, which he did with a grunt of satisfaction.
“You look like I feel. I figured we could catch up before the games begin.”
Tristan had missed Ray’s wry sense of humor, and it was damn good to see him again, even if it hadn’t been that long.
“Come on. You love your kids.”
Ray took a hefty swallow of his drink. “My kids, yeah. I love them to pieces. But them, plus ten other wild banshees running through the house? Not so much.” A particularly shrill scream tore through the air, making them wince. “Next time it’ll be at a jungle gym or some party place. Not here. It’ll take us a week to recuperate.”
“Charlotte’s terrific.” And Tristan meant it. Immediately warm and welcoming, Charlotte steered the parents of the little kids away from him, all the while casually asking her own questions, but not in an offensive way, only slightly nosy.
“Don’t I know it. I got lucky she gave me the time of day, considering I’m so much older. Whenever anyone would ask me if I didn’t want to get married, I’d say I wasn’t looking. But once I saw Charlotte, I couldn’t look away. I couldn’t stop thinking of her.”
“That’s sweet.” He had no idea what else to say. He heard clapping in the distance, and then the sound of Sean singing and children’s laughter. Sean must be the center of attention, and he couldn’t help smiling as he took a sip of his beer.
“So how’s Sean doing? Charlotte said he’s started this new street-singing business.”
Tristan detected a hint of disapproval in Ray’s tone, or maybe an expectation of failure, and he rushed to defend Sean. “He’s doing great. Brought home a ton of cash for just starting out with no following or anything but guts and luck. I think he could really do well if he keeps it up.”
“Hmm.” Ray seemed unconvinced. “I love Sean, but I’ve already told you he’s had a pretty unstable life.”
“Through no fault of his own.”
