Secret

The guy at the window stared into the car, not saying a word, and Tristan wasn’t any more forthcoming. What did he need to say as to why he sat out front of this particular house? “It’s dark. I can’t see you real well, but you look like that Wilder dude.”

Okay, he hadn’t expected that. Hesitantly, he confirmed, “I am.”

An arm reached in through the window and opened the door from the inside latch. He slid into the seat.

“Dude, you can’t just let anyone get inside my car. Man, what’s wrong with you people? Stalking rich folks in the middle of the night is a crime in about all fifty states,” Darren said, clearly upset.

“I’m Mark, Teri’s…” The silence ensued again. “Ummm…Yeah, well, she told me about you.” He stuck his hand out toward Tristan who shook it, before Mark reached his hand toward the backseat.

“I’m not anyone you need to know,” the guy said, completely indignant, refusing the handshake. “Wait a second, did he say Wilder? Did you say Wilder?” Darren asked, pulling himself back up toward the center of the car. “Are you that dude that’s in town to buy somethin’?”

“Yes,” Tristan said, lifting a hand to stop Darren from saying anything more. He was more interested in Mark. “What do you know?”

“Man, I should’ve asked for more money.” Darren tossed himself against the backseat.

“I don’t know a lot. I wondered what you knew,” Mark asked, looking past Tristan. Tristan’s eyes followed and they both stared out into the night at the house. Tristan’s gaze focused back on that small open window.

“I don’t know anything. Dylan didn’t know anything when he left. Teri called and told him to come home,” Tristan supplied.

“Did Dylan know that Chloe found out about him?” Mark asked and Tristan whipped his head around.

“How did she find out?”

“I don’t know. We didn’t get that far. Teri’s whole plan was to bring the family home to have the talk now.”

“She planned to tell the kids tonight?” Tristan asked.

“I guess, I don’t know. It sounded big,” Mark replied, and Tristan turned back to the house. Dread filled his soul. No way Dylan knew that when he walked into that house a little while ago.

Shit! This would traumatize Dylan.

He couldn’t see Dylan wanting to continue their relationship right now. He’d blame himself for Chloe finding out. That take-responsibility-for-everyone-around-him attitude was one of the sexiest things about Dylan. Now, all of a sudden, it also seemed like the end to the short time they’d been together. But to Tristan, the time hadn’t been short. It was a game changer. The last month had been the best of his entire life. He loved that man who had just walked into the collapse of everything he held dear in life.

Damn, he wanted to stick his head out of the car and throw up. Either that or storm through that house and grab Dylan up, protecting him from everything falling down around him. Take him off someplace where he’d never be hurt again.

“How long will all this take?” Tristan asked quietly.

“I don’t know. They aren’t a beat it into the ground kind of family, but this might take longer,” Mark said, equally quiet. “It seems like I’ve been waiting for her forever.”

“I just found him.” Tristan’s breath made a small circle in the glass with those words and he lowered his forehead to the window on a sigh.

“You’ve eased Teri’s heart. She was worried about what would happen to him,” Mark spoke quietly.

“He eased me,” Tristan whispered. “Do you worry she’ll pick them and leave you?”

“All the time, but she’s worth the risk,” Mark said softly beside him. “At least that’s what I tell myself.”

“One twenty-five an hour,” came from the backseat. Tristan sat there quietly, staring at the house, feeling his love slipping through his fingers with every passing minute.

Teri never minced words and Dylan respected that, but with as loudly as his heart hammered in his chest, he was surprised he even retained half of them. Chloe was still buried in the curve of his arm, feeling smaller than he ever remembered her seeming. He held tightly onto her. Chad sat beside him, and he kept a hand on his leg, holding him in place as he listened to Teri confess his most private secrets to their children. His eyes went between Cate and Chad, watching for their reaction. He saw shock more than the disgust he’d figured he might see. He couldn’t see Chloe, because she had her face turned toward Teri, but her head lay on his shoulder.

“Wait, Mom,” Cate said. She held Teri’s hand now. “So you’re saying Dad’s been gay for his whole life?”

“Yes, honey, but there’s more. Let me finish,” Teri started, but Cate interrupted her again.

“Dad, you didn’t leave us and go find someone better for you?” she asked him directly, and Chloe started crying again as her uncertain eyes searched his.

“There’s no one better or more important to us than you three,” Dylan said carefully. The hand he had on Chad’s knee was clasped tightly by his son. Dylan gripped him back, appreciating that lifeline. “Just because your mom and I don’t have a true marriage, you need to understand, I never considered I was sacrificing myself. Being your father’s the most important role in my life.”

“But that’s so lonely for you and Mom,” Cate added quietly, tears in her eyes now.

“Are you sure you’re really gay?” Chad asked from behind him. Dylan had suspected the most resistance to come from his son. They were buddies. They played sports together, talked about the girls in Chad’s life, and he’d even shared some secrets with Dylan. They were close, and he was afraid Chad would see this as a breach in that relationship.

He turned his attention back to his son. Both of Chad’s hands were now clasped around his. The tables had suddenly turned; his boy needed him as a lifeline, and Dylan reached out, draping an arm around Chad’s shoulders, drawing him closer against him. He took it as a good sign that Chad hadn’t shrugged off the contact. The two of them would need to speak privately about this at the first opportunity he got.