2. Chapter 2
TRISTAN
Why was the world so loud?
Tristan winced as the beep of a truck in reverse cut through his head while a car without a muffler passed by, its obnoxious sputtering echoing down the street.
He missed getting up in the middle of the woods where all he heard was birdsong and all he had to do was walk.
Thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail had been the adventure of a lifetime, and even though Tristan had been back for over a month, he still felt like a fish out of water. A fish with knee pain.
His twenty-two-hundred-mile trek through the woods had given him so much - the post-breakup healing he’d craved, the courage to start on his own again, incredible photos, lifelong friends, and patellar tendinitis, an overuse injury that was fixable. All he needed was a little physical therapy.
And all he wanted was another thru-hike. But he had to be back in top form to do that kind of mileage again, and his body might not be so kind after a second adventure.
Heading through the lobby of the medical building, he held the elevator door for an elderly woman with a cane, and she gave him a once-over, winking at him with a thank you.
They exited the elevator on the same floor but he turned left, signing in at the desk and waiting for the physical therapist, his gaze drifting.
Since it was the middle of the day, there weren’t many people, but on one of the tables off to the side was a striking man doing a side plank.
Instantly drawn in, the room fell away as Tristan studied that sharp profile.
With white-blond hair swept back on the sides and high cheekbones, he looked like a piece of art.
Metal glinted every time he shifted, and Tristan noticed a significant number of piercings in his ears, almost too many to count.
Did he have even more under those clothes?
“Tristan Maddock? I’m Kass.” Tristan’s thoughts crashed into a wall, and he was sure he looked like a blubbering fish as a tall woman with kind eyes introduced herself.
Recovering, he went through intake, making sure to focus on the exercises, and he only looked around again once he was on the stationary bike.
Sneaking glances, Tristan watched as another physical therapist set up the intriguing man near the wall bands, demonstrating what to do and then leaving him to his own devices.
He was even more stunning up close, ethereal, like a fae who’d stepped through a portal and had gotten wrapped up in human affairs, and Tristan’s dick twitched.
He quickly looked away, surprised at the sheer need that washed over him. After spending almost a decade in a tumultuous relationship that ended badly, he hadn’t felt this level of attraction in a long time.
Things between him and Eve had been over long before the breakup, and lately he’d been wondering if she’d ever loved him at all, or if she even had the capacity to love.
Truthfully, he’d only stayed that long because of her son, Rain.
He’d become family, proof that Tristan hadn’t wasted ten years of his life, and Tristan had tried to shield Rain from Eve’s poor treatment for as long as he could.
However, once he’d started having nosebleeds, he’d taken it as a wake-up call. It had given him the strength to break things off and take care of himself, to do something he’d always wanted to do - hike the Appalachian Trail.
On the outside, walking from Georgia to Maine had seemed like a fool’s journey, but to him it’d been a dream that had started when he was a child exploring the woods around his home.
Taking week-long section hikes or puttering about in the state forest hadn’t been enough; Tristan had always wanted to experience life on the trail.
And he’d made the right decision, because the green tunnel had brought him back to himself in every way, giving him the perspective that he’d needed to clear out his brain.
Part of that perspective had included making out with a few cute guys along the way and traveling around Maine with one of them once he finished his hike.
It hadn’t been anything serious, but it had added another layer to Tristan’s newfound freedom.
While Tristan was bi, his post-relationship attraction had swung to only men; however, he shouldn’t be ogling someone who was clearly over a decade younger than him, no matter how broodingly pretty he was.
The universe seemed to agree because his phone rang, reminding him that this man was not much older than Rain, whose name sat across the screen.
“Hey.” Tristan kept his voice low so he wouldn’t disturb anyone.
“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t be bothering you.
” Tristan and Eve’s breakup had tossed Rain out of the nest, and he had managed to free himself from her, but he’d ended up heartbroken after falling for a local photographer.
A week ago, he’d knocked on Tristan’s door, tears in his eyes and a kitten in his arms, and they’d been living with Tristan ever since.
Tristan didn’t mind. He hadn’t fully acclimated to post-trail life and lacked steady employment, so it was great to have Rain helping with rent.
But Tristan had other reasons for keeping Rain close.
He still felt guilty about leaving him behind, and for never being strong enough or fierce enough to fully protect him from Eve.
But now that Tristan was a new man, he’d do whatever he could to make sure Rain lived a good life, because Eve sure wouldn’t.
A sniffle told Tristan that Rain had been crying. “Um…where are you?”
“I’m at physical therapy.” Tristan looked down at the timer. Four more minutes.
“Sorry…I just…I wanted to talk to someone.”
“It’s okay. I understand.” Tristan knew exactly what it was like to have his heart broken, so Rain needed a bit of spoiling to get over Mason. “How about I stop at the doughnut place on the way home?”
“You always know how to cheer me up.”
Tristan forgot to reply because the pretty man’s face flickered with disappointment, and for some reason, Tristan felt like it was his fault.
“I’m doing a lot better,” Tristan stated as Kass started him on the bike.
“Is that so?” She raised a friendly eyebrow at him, adding five minutes to his timer.
“I shouldn’t have said anything,” Tristan grinned.
“It’s good to hear you’re improving. It’s because you do the exercises at home.”
“Do I get a gold star?”
“Even better!” She began the timer. “You get a healthy knee.” Patting him on the shoulder, she left him to his cycling, and Tristan immediately searched for his intriguing fellow patient.
They’d been keeping the same schedule over the last four weeks, and Tristan couldn’t help but look forward to seeing him.
To seeing Jax. Because Tristan had been listening for his name.
They’d exchanged glances many times, and Tristan could get lost in Jax’s deep brown eyes.
Sure, he’d had crushes before, but something about Jax felt familiar, as if they knew each other from somewhere; however, none of that mattered because Tristan wasn’t ready for anything with anyone, not yet.
And he didn’t want to have a fling with someone who wasn’t even born in the same decade as him.
Besides, Jax was here to get better like everyone else, and Tristan shouldn’t be interrupting that, especially when Jax seemed to be in pain, always walking stiffly.
A short cry echoed through the main room, and Tristan stopped cycling. That was definitely Kass, and he left the bike, going to the back office, where Kass stood on the desk, her eyes teary.
“What’s the matter?” Tristan asked, on high alert, but he relaxed as she pointed at the wall where a very large moth sat minding its own business.
“I-I’m sorry,” she shook, panicky. “I hate bugs.”
“That’s okay, he’s more scared of you than you are of him,” Tristan assured her as the scent of fresh mint hit him, but it had an edge of clove, and the combination was enticing.
“Wow, that thing has a face!” Jax appeared beside him, his voice lower than Tristan had expected. “They really shouldn’t have faces.”
Freezing, Tristan stared down at Jax, locking his jaw so it didn’t fall open. This close, Jax’s energy was magnetic and his beauty otherworldly; Tristan had to clench his fists because he wanted to reach out and touch, to see if Jax was indeed real.
With a wink at Tristan, Jax snatched a folder from the desk. “I can take care of it.”
“Please don’t kill him.” Tristan came to life, his pulse skyrocketing as Jax stopped, his pretty brown gaze sparkling with curiosity and interest.
Snapping into motion, Tristan grabbed a paper cup from the water cooler and gently guided the large moth into it, covering the top with his hand.
“Thank you!” Kass’ brow wrinkled as she stared at his hand. “You’re a hero.”
“I’m just a guy who likes the outdoors. Let’s get this little one to freedom.” Thankfully, the office had windows, and when Tristan stepped in front of one, Jax was at his side again.
“I got it.”
Tristan tried not to drool as Jax grinned up at him, sliding the window open and popping the corner of the screen.
“Thanks.” Tristan’s heart pounded through his chest at those full lips, which curved lusciously, teasing him. Almost forgetting why he was there, Tristan cleared his throat and focused, releasing the moth and watching it fly up into the autumn sky.
Meeting Jax’s gaze once again, Tristan searched for words, nervously stroking his beard as he came up short. He’d never been struck mute like this, not even when he’d first met Eve.
“Did I miss something?” Kyle walked in, confusion on his face until he saw Kass. “Oh. How big was the bug?”
Jax laughed, and the sound had goosebumps rippling up Tristan’s arms. “It was a moth with a face.”
“Ew,” Kyle recoiled as Tristan went over to the desk, holding out his hand and helping Kass step down .
“Thank you again for saving me,” she laughed, shaken and relieved.
“All in a day’s work,” Tristan stated, trying not to be too distracted by Jax’s proximity.
“Sorry I interrupted your session.” She held her hand out toward the door. “Let’s get you back on that bike.”
Within seconds, Tristan was pedaling again, wishing he had said more to Jax even though it would have led to nothing. Did crushes always make people this ridiculous?
Tristan’s pocket buzzed, and he checked the screen, heaving a sigh.
Where are you, Maddock?
Tristan could practically hear his toxic manager’s reedy voice. Frowning, he typed back.
Physical therapy.
It took a moment for the reply, and he stopped pedaling once it came in.
The front curtains were left open an inch. Mark said you did that?
Tristan could feel his brows pinching together. It had taken him a while to land a halfway decent job at a gourmet restaurant, but the manager was downright mean and his energy transferred to the staff.
I didn’t touch the curtains. Why did this matter?
That’s almost a write-up but I’ll let it go this time. Make sure you’re on your game, Maddock.
Tristan knew that this conversation was a power play, that everyone who worked there was miserable, so arguing about it wouldn’t help.
Okay, sorry. I’ll double-check them next time.
He’d hoped that his thru-hike would help him work through some things, and it had, but this shitty hospitality job was only making his post-trail depression worse.
He wanted to be back in the forest, standing on the edge of cliffs and looking out at green mountains, breathing in the scent of a campfire, being free and adventurous and a completely new person.
But if he wanted that, then he needed to make money, as much money as possible, and this place paid the best. Besides, he might have to cover the rent in full soon, because Rain was preparing to go to Mason’s photography exhibition, and Tristan had a feeling that they were going to get back together.
Putting away his phone, Tristan took another deep breath, his eyes snapping to Jax.
Even more enchanted after their brief exchange, Tristan couldn’t help but watch, his cock pulsing as Jax did leg lifts, stretching the band around his thighs to its limit.
A drop of sweat rolled down Jax’s neck, and Tristan leaned forward, wanting to lick it away and slide up to those pouty lips, desire making him tremble.
The timer went off, grounding him like a slap, and he tore his gaze away, realizing that he still wasn’t pedaling. He should get away from this tempting man and clear his head.
An hour later, he pulled up to an empty trailhead, his breath clouding the air.
Kass had cleared him for light mileage, so he decided to do a quick two-mile loop, but the steady pace of his footsteps and poles couldn’t touch the hold that Jax had on him.
No matter how much Tristan tried to focus elsewhere, all he saw was that glimmering gaze, the way Jax’s dark brow arched, and the tilt of his grin.
Maybe Jax was from another realm, and he’d been sent to Tristan to haunt him.