I shrug. “God, I don’t even remember.”
“You just hook up?” Tristan asks, fixing those soft eyes of his on me. “You just fuck ‘em and leave?”
“Yeah, Tristan, that’s what I do. I’m not emotionally equipped for more.”
Rocco rubs my arm. “Not true. Not at all. You’re my best friend for a reason. I know your heart, and it’s softer than you think. Or maybe softer than you want.” He looks at his son. “Bishop is a good man. Don’t let all his tough talk fool you.”
Tristan smiles. “I can tell. I’m a good judge of character.” His eyes hold my gaze. “Maybe you’ll meet someone who gets under your skin, and whether you like it or not, you’ll let him in. Maybe you’ll even fall in love.”
I nod, sipping my coffee. “I’m not against love. Not at all. I think it would be fantastic. It just hasn’t happened yet.”
“But if it did, you’d be open to it?”
My eyes shift briefly to Rocco, who’s watching his son with an amused expression, then back to Tristan. “I guess I don’t really know until it happens.”
Tristan nods as he stands and stretches, flexing every muscle in his abs and arms. “I better go shower and then start getting these fools out of the house. I need to pack still and go see my mom before I go.”
“Good luck with school.”
“Thanks.” He steps around to my side of the table. “I’m a hugger.”
I nod, standing and allowing this moment of contact. He briefly kisses my neck, then lets me go. “It was great meeting you, Bishop. Maybe I’ll see you around when I come down for visits.”
“Yeah, maybe. Take care.”
“You too.”
He enters the house and I sit down again, noticing Rocco’s curious expression. It’s silent for a moment until he speaks.
“Think my kid is into you.”
I nod. “A little maybe.”
“Not a little. I’ve known him his whole life and never saw him act like that around a guy.” He pats my hand. “I get it. I fell for it too.”
“Fell for it?”
“Your eyes. Your mouth. Your everything. He probably wouldn’t like to know I’ve had my mouth on your dick.”
I clear my throat, feeling even worse than I did. “Probably not, so let’s not tell him.”
“Ah, he’d understand. A night of drinking can often lead to these things.”
“Yeah.”
“Does he make you uncomfortable?”
I glance at my friend. “Yeah. He’s your kid.”
Rocco nods. “You find him attractive too, right?”
I shrug. “He looks like you.”
“He does.” Rocco stares out at the pool. “Obviously I wouldn’t be okay with it.”
I swallow hard. “Obviously.”
“Not just because he’s my kid.”
