Just a Bit Wrong (Straight Guys 4)

Tristan smiled back. Lydia was a bitch. She was fun, but she wasn’t in his league when it came to bitchiness.

“I wouldn’t have accepted the invitation, anyway,” he said with perfect calmness. “Why would I want to go?”

Clearly disappointed, Lydia went back to sorting through his mail.

Tristan put the phone down before picking it up again. He stared at it for a moment.

“Have you seen his girlfriend?” he said casually.

“Donna? Oh yeah, she picked him up the other day when his car had broken down. He introduced us.”

“What is she like?”

He felt her speculative gaze on him.

Keeping his face vaguely bored, Tristan said, “I’m curious what kind of woman would be stupid enough to marry such a bossy guy. She must be a doormat.”

“She isn’t,” Lydia said immediately. “She’s strong and it was obvious to me their relationship is that of equals. He respects her. She seemed practical and open-minded.”

Tristan looked at his nails. “Do they claim to be in love?”

Lydia chuckled. “They’re getting married, aren’t they? They must be.”

“Don’t be silly. People get married all the time for many different reasons.”

“Like what?”

“Habit,” Tristan said. “Family expectations, financial reasons. Insecure people look for the security of marriage. Some people are afraid of being lonely. Some want kids. And so on and so forth. Love isn’t necessary at all. Actually, accomplished people don’t need to ‘love’ anyone to feel happy. Love is something people invented to excuse their idiotic behavior and to dress up lust with hearts and flowers.”

“I hope one day you’ll fall in love,” Lydia muttered, barely audibly. “And that person will bring you to your knees.”

Tristan smiled. “You’re hilarious, sweetheart. That’s why I keep you around, even though I know you hate my guts.”

It was amusing to watch her face turn red. She opened and closed her mouth several times without saying anything.

At last, she cleared her throat. “Anyway, if you’re waiting for Zach, don’t. He isn’t coming today.”

Tristan’s smile faded. “What?”

Lydia gave him an innocent look. “Didn’t I tell you he called while you were in the shower? Oops. He told me he wasn’t coming today. He said you knew what exercises to do. He has plans with Donna today.”

Tristan stared at her.

Then, he called Zach.

“I don’t remember giving you a day off,” he said the moment Zach answered his phone.

“You don’t need me today,” Zach said. It sounded like he was driving. “You know what exercises you’re supposed to do. You don’t need me there to supervise you. You’re not a child.”

“I didn’t give you a day off,” Tristan said slowly, as though he was the one speaking to a small child. “You’re my physiotherapist. You’re supposed to check on my progress every day. You can’t give yourself a day off whenever you want. What I want is the only thing that matters. Come here. Now.”

“I’m busy, Tristan,” Zach said. A female voice said something in the background.

Tristan’s pulse started thudding in his ears. “I don’t care. You will come here at once. As long as you are my therapist, I can keep you at my side for as long as it’s necessary during your work hours. You signed the contract. Did you think I haven’t read it? From nine in the morning till six in the evening, you’re mine—if I want it. And now I want it.”

“You’re doing this just to spite me.”

“You know me so well,” Tristan said in his nicest voice. “Now get your behind over here.”

Zach heaved a sigh. “Listen, b—Tristan. I’m really busy. I’m not alone. Give me a day off today, and tomorrow you can make me stick around the entire day doing nothing but watch you do nothing.”

“I think not. I want you now.” Tristan grimaced as soon as he said that, a rush of heat surfacing to his cheeks.

There was silence on the line.

“Spoiled baby,” Zach said through his teeth.

Tristan felt an involuntary smile tug at his lips. “Always,” he said and hung up, feeling ridiculously pleased by the fact that Zach had called him ‘spoiled baby’ and acted more like his old self.

Looking up, he found himself on the other end of Lydia’s judgmental look. “What?”

Lydia shook her head. “It’s just…you could have given him a day off. Do you know that he had freed his schedule up for the wedding? That’s why Dr. Sheldon was able to hire him for you at all. If it weren’t for this job, Zach would have been spending his time with his fiancee, as he had intended. As it should be.”

“That’s not my concern,” Tristan said. “I’m injured. He’s my physiotherapist. I need him here.”

Lydia stared oddly but said nothing.

It was fifty-seven minutes before the doorbell rang.

Tristan didn’t bother getting up from the couch. He waited, staring at the doorway, as Lydia went to open the front door.

The sound of footsteps and voices approached.