Page 52 of Brought By the Storm

“I don’t want you to get hurt,” he answered.

“Is that why you don’t get attached to anyone? You don’t want to get hurt?” He reacted like I had sent a bolt of electricity to his chest. “Why have you never shared with anyone you’re gay? Are you avoiding the drama of coming out because you assume you’ll never have a partner anyway, figuring they could hurt you?”

He squirmed in the chair. “Are you trying to psychoanalyze me now?”

I pressed forward. “What about Mateo? You like him more than you let on. I can tell. Are you going to keep it going with him, or will you forget about him as soon as we’re back in Yastarus?”

“We’d be halfway across the world from each other. What’s the point? That’s something you should be considering when it comes to Eric.”

I nodded. “I have thought about it. It’s not ideal, but I’m already thinking I could move here once I finish the presidency.”

Stefan was shocked. “You can’t be serious! Are you in love with him? How can this be? It’s been little more than two days, Carrington.”

I sighed. “I know that. I’m not saying I will. I’m saying I could, if things work out. We can visit, and there’s video chat. If he’s the one, then the long distance will be a nuisance, not a deal-breaker. It could be the same for you and Mateo. But that would mean opening your heart to someone, wouldn’t it?”

“Fuck you, Carrington. I opened my heart to you for years! What did that get me?”

That stung. It hadn’t occurred to me that he’d avoided relationships because he was in love with me for so long. “I’m sorry, Stefan. I swear, I didn’t know until you told me the other night. But now that you’re no longer in love with me, maybe it’s time to give Mateo a chance, yes? He seems like a good chap.”

Stefan cast his eyes down and was silent for a while. He whispered, “Yes, maybe I should give him a chance.”

I clapped a hand on his shoulder. “Feel free to spend the night at his place. I’ll be fine. I’m safer here than anywhere else I could be.”

Stefan sneered. “So, do you care about me at all, or was this whole Mateo conversation a means of freeing up the house for you and Eric tonight?”

“Of course, I care about you. You are my best friend, Stefan. I want you to be happy. You and Mateo can stay here tonight, if you prefer. It won’t stop my plans with Eric. I just thought it would be a chance for the two of you to spend time together without feeling awkward by our presence.”

“What do you mean, your plans with Eric?”

I hesitated. “We’ve experimented a good deal.” I flushed thinking about the deeds we’d already done. “God, I’m not comfortable speaking of this.” I looked Stefan in the eye. “I haven’t made love to him yet, if you know what I’m saying. I want to this evening.”

He frowned. “Are you certain this is wise?”

I raised my chin. “I’ve never been so sure of anything.”

Stefan rose from his chair, slapping his hands against his thighs as he did so. “Fine. After dinner, I’ll ask Mateo to show me his apartment and convince him to stay there with me tonight. But I’m returning tomorrow. I don’t think you should be left unprotected.”

“Very well.” I walked over to him and hugged him. “Stefan, I’m sorry about so many things. And I do want you to be happy. Maybe I’m getting carried away, but I think it would be magnificent if you and Mateo were a couple, and we could do things together—the four of us.”

Stefan’s jaw dropped. “Do you mean that the four of us would have sex together?”

I almost choked out a cough. “My word, no! I meant once I’m no longer the president, we could do normal things that couples do together. I want you in my life, Stefan. But I want Eric in my life, too. At least, right now that’s how I feel. I’m falling for him.”

Stefan looked doubtful, but nodded and exited to join the others in the kitchen.