Sean shot him a look, and Tristan shrugged.
“Well, because it seems Ray offered the apartment to someone who worked for him in the London office and transferred back to the States. He came in last night, and it was not a pleasant scene. Are you sure you told him?”
“Of course. I’ll check my texts. Hold on.”
Tired of standing, Tristan circled the island and sat on the opposite end of the couch from Sean.
“Shit. I can’t find it. Maybe it was an email…lemme see.” Another few seconds passed. “Goddammit. I thought I sent it to him. The kids have me so crazed…oh, crap.”
“What?” Sean had a sinking feeling he already knew what she was about to say.
“I just saw this email from him saying he’s letting an employee returning to the States use the apartment. I guess I missed it.”
Sean rolled his eyes and gazed at the ceiling. “You guess? You’ve got to be fuckingkiddingme. Char. He told you, and you offered me the apartment anyway?”
“I didn’t see his email. I get so much junk in my inbox every day. It’s an honest mistake. I’m sorry, Sean.”
“Char…I can’t just run out and find another place. I haven’t even found a job yet.”
“You could always come stay here with us again. Ray will be home soon.”
The sound of a child’s wail filled the room, and meeting Sean’s eyes, Tristan winced in sympathy.
“Yeah, no thanks.”
“I’m sure whomever Ray lent the apartment to will understand. Why don’t you share the place until one of you finds something else? The couch is a pull-out. One of you could sleep there. Listen, the twins’ doctor’s office is calling me. I gotta go. Talk to you later.” She hung up.
“I can’t believe this.” He threw his phone onto the sofa. “Shit.”
Tristan felt sorry for Sean, but not enough to give up the apartment. He hadn’t been in the city in almost two years, and he’d been stymied in his search. No way was he walking away from this apartment.
Sean chewed his lip. “Uh, so, yeah. I’m sorry I screamed at you last night. What the hell am I supposed to do now? I can’t afford the rents around here. I can’t afford anything now.” Sean stood and began to pace. “I’d been in my old place for years—it was rent stabilized. That’s why the landlord never bothered to fix anything. It was run-down as hell, but I didn’t care. I’ll never find a sweet place like that again. Shit, shit,shit.”
“Take it easy. I’m sure we can figure something out.”
“Yeah.” Sean faced him with a hopeful expression. “You must have money saved. I’m sure you can afford a better place than this.”
“I do, but I don’t want to rent. I want to buy. And I’m not a spur-of-the-moment kind of guy. I don’t even know where I’d want to live. Plus, I don’t start work for a month or so. I came early to make sure I’d have enough time to find the place I want. I didn’t plan on this inconvenience.” He waved his hand.
“Well, what seems like merely an inconvenience for you is one step away from me being homeless.” With a glum face, Sean sank onto the couch. “Not only have I lost my apartment, but my sleazebag of a boss fired me. I don’t even have a job anymore. I’m so desperate, I’m about to go panhandle on the sidewalk. All the so-called friends I always helped couldn’t be bothered to do the same for me.”
Sean propped his chin in his hand and stared off with a frown. While Tristan felt sorry for him, Sean’s money problems weren’t his concern. Then he saw the large dark bruise on Sean’s arm where he’d grabbed him the night before, and remorse filled his chest.
Shit.
“Maybe your sister is right. We could share the place.”
Did he just say that?
Chapter Three
“What?” Sean gaped at Tristan, and not because of those magnificent pecs staring him in the face.
“I said,” Tristan repeated quietly, “wecouldshare the place. I’m hoping I’ll find an apartment soon. If that would be okay with you, we could work out logistics.”
Sean blinked and stared. Actually, he hadn’t stopped gawking at Tristan since he’d walked out of the bathroom because when was the last time he’d been in proximity to so much gorgeous male flesh?
Never. Tristan was the best-looking man he’d ever seen. Broad shoulders, hard-muscled abs, and tattoos? Yes, please! And Sean hadn’t noticed until now the long hair pulled back in a messy bun, a particular weakness for him. His breath came quick, his heart raced, and he mentally slapped himself to stop being an idiot. Tristan hadn’t given any indication he was gay, and remembering how he got flipped over and under Tristan on the bed, Sean wasn’t about to make a move.
