Page 18 of Perfectly Wrong
TWELVE
TRISTAN
I look up from the couch when Bishop walks in. I’ve been a nervous wreck since he left. He walks over, his impressive gait making his way to me. I can’t believe all that man is for me. He sits next to me, taking my hand in his.
“It was rough at first,” Bishop begins. “I told him we were in a relationship, and he told me he knew.” My eyes widen. “Since Thanksgiving.”
“Wow.”
“Yeah, but he still wasn’t okay with it. He still thought it was just sex.”
I nod. “And you told him...?”
“That I wanted to love you. My heart is open, and I’m ready.
” He presses the back of my hand to his lips and kisses it softly with his eyes closed.
“A long time ago, Tristan, I loved a man. I was all in. I thought he was the one.” He opens his eyes, fixing them on me.
“He didn’t feel that way about me. He thought I was just a toy to fuck around with.
When I told him I loved him he laughed and told me I was way off base. He just threw me away.”
“I can’t imagine someone not wanting you.”
“It was a long time ago. I had a lot to learn about confidence and love. But he left a bruise. He made me think it was too dangerous to put my heart out there. So I never did again, and I hurt people who cared about me because I was too afraid to let them in.” I nod.
“Your dad knew that about me, and it made him worry for you. It was a fair concern.”
“I get it.”
“But you didn’t give me a choice, did you?”
I smile. “No.”
“Thank god. I needed someone brave enough to bust down the door and demand entry. I needed you to come along and show me…” Bishop cups my face, a sweet smile on his lips. “I needed you to show me that opening your heart is the bravest thing a person can do. Far braver than hiding it.”
“I’m insane over you, Bishop. You are brave and beautiful and perfect. You’re more than I ever could’ve hoped for. I want everything with you.”
“Your dad said you want the happy ending. You want marriage and kids. I need time to think about things.”
I smile. “I’m twenty years old, Bishop. We have time. Like a decade at least. I want to build a career for myself and enjoy life. I want to travel and experience everything I can. I want to do all of it with you.”
“I want that too.”
“How did it end with my dad?”
“He gave me his blessing.”
My mouth falls open. “No way. No way, Bishop.”
“Way.” He pinches my chin. “He said he needed me to be a man about it and show him it was real.”
“That’s amazing.”
“It is. I told him that as much as I valued our friendship, I was willing to risk it for you.” He smiles. “I don’t even know how this happened.”
“What? Us?”
“Yeah. One night I was just fucking around with you and the next I’m asking you to stay.”
“I’m basically irresistible.”
Bishop laughs, leaning in to kiss me. “You are.”
“Should I call him?”
“I told him you would reach out when you’re ready to tell him your plans. I thought you should come to him as a man and show him you got this.”
“Because of you.”
“There’s no shame in getting help.”
I nod. “I feel really blessed to have you in my life. For so many reasons. You have my heart, Bishop. All of it.”
“I know.” He climbs on top of my lap, straddling me and wrapping his arms around my neck. “Want to fuck?”
I laugh. “Yes, sir, I do.”
In the morning, I kiss Bishop on the forehead and sneak out, knowing my dad is up early. He always is. I drive to his house, feeling less nervous than before, but still crazy nervous. Now he knows about me and Bishop.
When I arrive, I unlock the door and step inside to find him sitting at the kitchen table, staring outside.
“Dad?”
He looks up and smiles as he rises from the table and rushes to me. He pulls me into his arms, hugging me tightly. “I’m so glad you’re here.”
I hug him back, letting my tears fall. “I’m sorry.”
He steps back, studying my face. “For what?”
“So much. For making you worry, for wasting your money in school, for failing, for hiding Bishop. I never meant to hurt you, dad. Never.”
He cups my face. “I know that, son. I know. You didn’t hurt me. You did what you had to do to deal with me. I’m the one who’s sorry. I just didn’t see it before how I was pushing you to live my life instead of yours.”
We walk over and sit on the couch. “Bishop too, dad. I didn’t know it would become something. I just wanted…” I shake my head. “You know.”
“You’re in love with him?”
“Yeah. His impact on me was quick. It was like being hit with a meteor and pulled into his orbit. I couldn’t stay away. Even when I went back to school, all I could do was think about him.”
“Are you sure it’s love? You saw him a few times.”
“I know, but when he looks at me, dad, it’s like I’m the only person who exists. We just click on a level that blows my mind. You had to notice.”
“I did. I tried to ignore it, but it’s impossible. The two of you…” He smiles. “To use your words, it was like no one else existed. I was afraid he was just fucking around. I should have stayed out of it.”
“You couldn’t. I’m your kid and he’s your best friend. We should’ve come clean sooner, but neither of us knew it would be something worth talking about. I thought it would be a fling. I didn’t think I could snag a man like Bishop.”
“I knew you could, but I didn’t think he would let you. He surprised me.”
I laugh softly. “I think he surprised himself, but he’s such a good person.
He’s been incredibly loving and supportive and protective.
That night I drank too much, he was so gentle.
I was so mad at him and I acted ridiculous.
I called him a pussy.” Dad’s eyebrow rises.
“I drank too much and threw a tantrum. He took me home and put me in the shower and tucked me in. He took care of Trinity. I tried to come on to him that night, but he said no way. I needed to sleep it off. He cared about me.”
Dad nods. “He’s a good man.”
“I think that was the night I fell in love. That’s when I could see beyond the physical.”
“Your sex life with him, if you want to talk about it, I imagine that part is intense with him. I see the way he looks at you, and I’ve never seen that look in his eyes with other men he’s dated.”
“It’s deeper than a physical attraction. It’s like we’re connected and need each other to be complete. He…” I shake my head. “You don’t want to hear it.”
Dad rubs my back. “I hope I’m still on your best friend list, and if I am, you can talk about it if you want to. I just didn’t want you to feel uncomfortable.”
“Even though you did things with him?”
He shakes his head. “It was many years ago, and it was a brief thing. It wasn’t a big deal at all. You can tell me.”
“I guess you would know how major this is. He, um, he bottomed for me, dad.”
Dad’s mouth falls open. “Oh. Well, that is something. To my knowledge, he’s very selective about who he’ll do that with.”
“I know, so it blew me away.”
He cups my cheek. “I’m happy for you, Tristan. Both of you. You know I think the world of you and believe you deserve the best. I think the same of Bishop, and he got the best. He got you.”
“Thanks, dad. Your approval is everything. I felt so bad tempting him and putting him in a position of lying to you. I want us to be able to be over here with you and hanging out and in love.”
“I want that too, Tristan. Very much.” We hug and he pats my back. “Bishop said you would have something to tell me.”
“Yeah. About my future. I want to flip houses with Trinity.” Dad nods. “She’ll do design, and I’ll do the heavy lifting. We’re calling it Tristan & Trin.”
“Okay.”
“Bishop wants to invest and get us started.”
“Oh. He’s wanted to get into that.”
“That’s what he said. When I told him my idea, he proposed that. He said when he was my age, he needed someone to give him a chance, and that’s what he’s doing for me.”
Dad smiles. “That’s great, son. I think that’s a good business to get into.”
“Do you mean it?”
“I do, but here’s the thing. Whatever you want to do, I’m going to support you. I learned my lesson.”
“Thanks, dad.”
“You’re welcome. Did you tell your mom yet?”
I shake my head. “No. I’ll get to her. She’s not as invested as you are.”
He laughs. “When are you and your new boyfriend coming for dinner?”
I smile. “Whenever you invite us.”
“How about Sunday?”
I nod, smiling. “Yeah. Sunday’s good.”