Page 138 of Pretty ’n Peak

For another moment, Mateo considered inviting Austin to stay. They could go together. Listen to all the kiddos clumsily thunk out their pieces, including Anita’s, which he’d heard a hundred times.

It would be cute. He knew Austin would smile for Anita and clap as loudly as anyone. That Austin would brush his shoulder in good humor when the third kid in a row played the same song. They’d eat terrible cookies and laugh with Mateo’s family and tell Anita she was the star of the show, even though all the teenagers sounded much better.

But that wasn’t the relationship they had.

They didn’t have any relationship at all.

And Mateo still didn’t dare draw attention to himself by doing anything like that with another man.

Piano recitals definitely weren’t rock climbing.

“We should get going pretty soon,” he heard himself saying. “I need to be back by two.”

“We? I was going to take a Lyft.”

He couldn’t even guess how much that would cost. “No, I’ll drive you.”

Austin came up and stroked his cheek. “Thanks. I appreciate it. And maybe you could help me look around for my stuff?” He laughed. “I usually keep everything exactly in its place so I can find it, but I’ve been a bit wild this weekend.”

They found Austin’s shirt shoved down at the foot of the mattress and a tawse underneath the bed. Mateo unhooked the nylon strap that was secured to the legs.

It was kind of funny, cleaning up from the scenes, when everything was a little less magical and thrilling. But it felt cozy, too.

Austin joked with him, and told wild stories about some of the implements.

When they piled into the truck together—waiting until the coast was clear downstairs—there was just one question burning on Mateo’s mind.

The time was slipping away, and Austin hadn’t said anything.

So that meant he had to ask.

And he would. As soon as he gathered up the courage.

He could feel the angry bruises on his back and shoulders, which still pulsed delightfully every time he shifted.

Austin was talking about the local elections, asking if he knew anything about some of the smaller races, but he had to blurt it out.

“Can we see each other again?”

Austin looked startled. Probably because that hadn’t been smooth at all.

Then a slow smile spread across his face. “I’d like that. Should I come visit you again?”

“Uh…” It wasn’t that he didn’t want Austin there. But creeping around like a teenager had worn on his nerves. “Maybe I could come to you?” Was that awkward? Just inviting himself over to Austin’s place? “Or I could drive up for an evening, if you want to go out or something.”

And now he was making all sorts of other assumptions. If they were just going to have a scene, they didn’t need all of the other stuff that went along with a weekend getaway or staying overnight.

But the only thing Austin said was, “When?”

“Um… I’m free next weekend.” Was that too soon? “Oh, wait. I’m supposed to help my brother put up this shed in the backyard.” And he could still leave afterward, but everyone was likely to hang around and eat together, and they’d all ask where he was going. “Maybe two weeks?”

“Two weeks sounds good. I’ll think of something to do.”

Mateo smiled the rest of the day.

21

Austin