Free Forsaking Truth by Lydia Michaels Page A

cute, but not much of a prize.

She sort of bossed Finnegan around and undervalued him. Luke didn’t know why

his brother didn’t tell her to knock it off.
    His gaze moved to the

back of the church. There was his Aunt Rosemarie, Ryan, and Pat. No Tristan. He

saw Tristan from time to time at O’Malley’s and avoided him whenever at work.

Twice, his presence at the bar had spurred Luke to openly proposition whatever female was next to him and twice the repercussions

had left him with an acidic sensation in his gut.
    Tristan wasn’t shy

about watching him. His mouth never quirked in a smile when he was around. His

eyes were always focused, seeing, and scrutinizi ng.

Luke knew he was a prick to flaunt other hookups in his presence, but it had to

happen. Tristan had to understand Luke was straight and whatever they shared

meant nothing but too many beers.
    That was bullshit. He

fucking dreamt about the guy. Not just in a sexual

sense either. He dreamt of them hanging out, driving in his truck, and lying

close in the warmth of his bed.
    When Tristan was

around, Luke couldn’t help but stand to attention. His neck prickled with

awareness and his pulse quickened and then t here was

the way his body hardened every time he sensed his presence. It was fucking

killing him.
    Dear God, make it end. Either make the

feelings go away or let me end this miserable existence.
    Things were getting so

bad he didn’t even want to go to work. Ryan had

started, and he and Tristan had a great friendship that grated on Luke’s last

nerve. His cousin didn’t seem to give a shit if Tristan fucked women, men, or

goats for that matter. To Ryan, he was just Tristan and that was enough.
    None of the other guys at the yard appeared to know about Tristan’s

orientation. Whenever the topic of sex came up, he seemed to roll with the

punches like any straight man would. He didn’t have to like tits in order to

comment that they were big. He tossed out a comment h ere

and there and that alleviated any possible questioning glances, which never

came.
    When mass ended he

went to his truck. “Luke, can I get a ride back with you?”
    He turned and found

Sheilagh at his heels. “Yeah. Where’s your car?”
    “The belt broke

again.”
    They climbed into his

truck and he backed out. Once the parade of church traffic dissipated, he took

the back road home.
    “Can I ask you

something?” Sheilagh said in a small voice that sounded nothing like her usual

one.
    “Sure.”
    “Do you think I’m

pretty?”
    “I think you’re

beautiful, Sheilagh. Why? Do I need to kick someone’s ass?”
    “No. It’s just… I like

this guy and whenever I see him around he doesn’t seem to notice me.”
    “Then he’s an idiot.”
    “I think it’s because

I’m immature.”
    He glanced at her then

retur ned his eyes to the road. “You’re going through

a tough stage. You’re almost an adult, but still very much a child. Don’t get

pissed. It’s true and we’ve all been there. Before you know it, you’ll get a

handle on all these new feelings. You’ll understand y our

body is its own work of art. And that guy will eventually see he’s either got a

shot at the best girl in Center County or he missed his chance, because she’s

found someone better. Just don’t go giving it away for free. You make them work

for it, you he ar? And if any guy gets a little too

fresh, you tell me. You got five older brothers. A guy would have to be a

complete sadist to treat you wrong.” He paused and frowned. “Scratch that.

Maybe you should just hold off for a while on the boy stuff.”
    She snor ted. “Like the rest of you held off on the girl stuff? I’m

not deaf, Luke. I hear about you and Kelly.”
    He inwardly flinched

at being placed in the same category as his reprobate brother, Kelly. With

three other brothers to emulate, Kelly’s behavior toward women was probably the least flattering. “Just…just keep your