Inches of Trust by A.R. Moler

Author:A.R. Moler [Snyder, JM]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: JMS Books LLC
Published: 2017-04-02T00:00:00+00:00

Auld Acquaintance

The thick, cream-colored envelope lying open on Tristan’s kitchen counter drew Brian’s curiosity. It looked like it was probably a wedding invitation and Brian wondered if it was anyone he’d heard Tristan speak of. Brian slid the card out of the envelope and read it. It was definitely not a wedding announcement. Instead what Brian read was the invitation to one of the city’s most luxurious and raved about New Year’s Eve parties. Held at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, it cordially invited Tristan and guest to attend.

Tristan came into the kitchen, stripping off his tie with one hand, short dark hair windblown. His left arm was still in a sling.

“Want to tell me how you rate an invite to Carl Windermere’s New Year’s party at the Mandarin?” asked Brian. “People sell their souls for that sort of opportunity.”

Tristan gave a snort of amusement. “My parents are friends of Windermere’s. I get an invitation every year. I almost never go.”

“Take me, take me, please can we go, can we?” Brian begged, intentionally mimicking a hyperactive child. “I’ll be good.” He gave Tristan a silly grin.

Tristan rolled his eyes. “You do realize it’s a black tie affair.”

“So? I can rent a tux,” countered Brian. “I’m guessing you own one.”

“Yes. I have one. As if my mother would let me get away with not having one,” Tristan replied.

Brian pondered that for a moment. It was a constant source of contention with his family not only that Tristan had chosen a law enforcement career, but that he was gay. Brian was an architect and had been involved with Tristan since the end of October. Their relationship was creeping in the direction of something deep and long term. Brian had hopes that long term might extend to permanent.

Tristan ran his hands back through his hair. “Of course I only wear it about as often as I wear my dress blues.”

“I have a fond memory regarding those dress blues, and regret that I didn’t get to be the one removing them. Think I’ll have any better luck with the tux?”

“I suspect so,” replied Tristan. “Oh, I meant to ask you if you had any problems with the keys or the alarm code.”

“No problems.”

Tristan had given Brian keys to his house as part of his Christmas present and it still gave Brian a warm feeling that Tristan trusted him that far.

“Good. I’m going to go upstairs and change. Feel free to root around through the cupboards. If there’s something you can’t find, just ask.”

* * * *

In the bedroom, Tristan was torn between wanting Brian to come help him undress and just leaving him alone to start dinner preparations. Having a badly injured wrist made simple things, like taking off slacks and putting on jeans, an exercise in frustration. Add in the fact that it was his dominant hand and that just increased the annoyance. He did have to admit it was healing. Two weeks after the damage, as long as he didn’t use it at all, it now barely hurt.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.