Page 19 of Brought By the Storm

Mateo nodded in agreement. “You’ve been blessed all right, and that’s just based on what I see from the waist up.”

Eric was becoming more fidgety, looking everywhere but at one of us.

“Maybe that’s a conversation better left between the two of you in private,” I suggested.

“You’re right,” Mateo said, but gave me a mischievous wink, implying he thought I was encouraging the two to hook up. “As for Eric, he’s cute, but he won’t age as well as a muscular hunky dude. I was worried about him when he moved up to this Stepford Wife state. I can count on one hand the number of gay men you’d sleep with, and I can count on one amputated foot the number of them you’d want for a partner. I felt obligated to follow him to make sure he didn’t join a monastery.”

Eric let out a huff, his eyes pained. “I think we’ve done enough for the day. I’ll go shower and get dinner started.” Before I could think of anything to say that would make him feel better, he was already halfway across the patio.

I started to follow but felt Mateo’s hand on my arm holding me back. He explained, “I give him tough love sometimes. He needs it, and you give friends what they need.”

I tried to hold back the anger I was feeling toward Mateo. He would wonder why I was so invested. Nevertheless, I couldn’t withhold the sarcasm. “And I see your tough love has been working so well. He’s filled with confidence now.”

Mateo reacted like I had slapped him. “I…I just try to point out that he shouldn’t worry so much and he should have a good time.”

“Maybe what he wants isn’t what you want. Maybe he’s waiting for the right guy.”

Mateo nodded. “I know. But he’s had lots of bites at the apple. He could get to the core and realize there’s nothing left even though he’s still hungry.”

Stefan piped in. “Carrington may be right, though. You were kind of harsh.” He looked over at me. “Maybe people should back off and stop speculating on what he wants.” He narrowed his eyes, wanting to send me a message. “Eric is a grown man. He may not want anyone in his life, and he doesn’t need prodding from us.”

Mateo nodded again. “Shit. Now I feel bad. I was just trying to help. I’ll go talk to him.” I put a hand up to stop him this time, but he brushed it away. “Don’t worry. No tough love. I’m going to apologize and tell him to trust his instincts. What do I know? It’s not like I’m with someone either.” With that, he grabbed his shirt off a nearby fence pole and retreated to the house.

“What the hell was that?” I barked at Stefan.

He squirmed a bit. “You mean Mateo flirting with me?”

“Surprising as it was that you were encouraging it, I was referring to the way he was treating Eric.”

Stefan’s mouth tightened and he jutted his chin like he was ready to do battle. “First off, you of all people have no right to deny me a little fun with another guy. You’re a big reason I lost so many years as it is, and you sure aren’t hiding your little crush on our host. Christ, I can’t believe Mateo couldn’t see it. You were eye-fucking Eric the entire time he was standing there.”

“What? I wasn’t,” I stammered.

Stefan smirked. “I haven’t seen you even look at a pretty girl the way you were feasting on him.” He rolled his eyes. “I’m your mate, don’t lie to me about it.”

His words reminded me of what my mother had said. Everyone close to me was beginning to think me dishonest. “I…wasn’t thinking about sex. I don’t deny I find him…breathtaking, though.”

My friend’s face softened a bit. “Well, I’m beginning to see it. He’s not what I go for, but he is very cute. That body is more jacked than I would have thought. Even I was waiting for him to take the shirt off.”

I felt a surge of jealousy. “Mateo wasn’t enough to be salivating over? And what do you think will come of that, anyway? You live halfway across the world from Mateo.”

Stefan had a victorious smile. “Indeed. Maybe you should apply that logic to yourself. I’m willing to settle for a quick shag with a hot man. I’m not so sure that’s going to be enough for you. I’m looking at Mateo with lust. You’re looking at Eric with little heart emojis.”

“I’m not in love with him. I don’t even know him,” I protested.

“You’d do well to remember that,” Stefan warned. “You want to attack Mateo, but he told me some things. Eric has baggage. Mateo’s been there to help him every step of the way.”

“What are you talking about?” I demanded, though I wasn’t sure I wanted to hear anything negative about Eric. Maybe I was projecting heart emojis.

“Eric is almost a virgin at the age of twenty-six. You might think that’s quaint, but I think it’s indicative of issues. Mateo said that he came out to his parents whilst attending New York University, and they cut him off. He finished school on scholarships and part-time jobs. When he graduated, he had no money and no place to go. Mateo befriended him and took him in.”

I couldn’t understand how any mother could disown someone as kind as Eric. “My God,” I whispered.

Stefan continued. “Mateo even moved to Connecticut, leading Eric to believe that he wanted a change of pace. But the truth is that he cares for Eric like a brother, and he was afraid for him to be alone. So, before you criticize Mateo for being tough on Eric, you should consider how much he’s done for him. He said Eric has very low self-esteem, and he sabotages opportunities with men. That’s something else you might want to think about before you go down this path to disappointment.”

“Perhaps Eric hasn’t found the guy who will treat him the way he should,” I countered.

“Maybe,” Stefan concurred. “I’m just saying, you’re already confused, and you’re falling for someone else who’s confused.” Waving his arm toward the destruction from the hurricane, he added, “It’s a storm brewing, and this could be the outcome.”