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.”
THIRTEEN
BISHOP
