Page 141 of Pretty ’n Peak

Mateo: Are you busy this evening?

Mateo: I’d like to get your advice on something.

Mateo: Maybe we could call?

That seemed harmless, right? But also reminded him that he was working with Mateo in the role of a mentor.

God, he didn’t know what to do.

He wanted to talk to someone. His heart said Mateo, but of course he couldn’t talk to the sub about himself. And Taja’s dose of reality had already been enough for today.

Maybe he could just call Mateo and focus on his problems instead. Be a good mentor.

He told his phone to make the call.

“Oh, hey! You called me!” Mateo sounded cheerful. Even luminous.

“Yeah.” Austin fought down a smile, but it was hard. Even hearing Mateo’s voice made everything better. “What’s up?”

“This is going to sound crazy, but an art dealer saw my stuff and wants to sell it in a gallery.”

“No way! That’s amazing!” All Austin could feel was proud. Awed and proud. No matter where Mateo went in life, this was an exceptional moment to share with him.

“Yeah. He contacted me through the library and we talked for almost two hours. I even texted him pictures of some stuff that no one else has seen.”

Austin felt a little rumble that might be jealousy. Which was fucking ridiculous. He’d been in open relationships before. And, and… And he didn’t actually have a relationship with Mateo at all. He was talking about an art dealer, for chrissakes. Looking at art that he couldn’t see.

He pushed all of that aside because, truly, this was fantastic. “I’m so excited for you. What an amazing opportunity!” He didn’t need to fake any of his enthusiasm.

“He actually asked me to come over next weekend, and it’s in Portland, so…” Mateo laughed, little bubbles of happiness floating through the phone.

“So you were wondering if maybe you could find a place to crash?” Austin found himself grinning.

“Yeah. Do you happen to know of anywhere… Daddy?”

Austin’s heart skipped a beat.

He was still Daddy. Even when they weren’t in a scene.

He knew Taja was right, but… what if she was wrong, too? Couldn’t Mateo make him happy now and stick around in the long run? And really, hadn’t Taja said that was a possibility?

“Well, I might know of a spot. Just for sexy boys who are getting their first gallery show.”

“Oh my God. I’m so excited. Could I… I mean, the meeting’s on Saturday afternoon, but could I maybe come up on Friday? If that’s not imposing too much?”

“You can stay the whole weekend.” Maybe they could do everything on his list. He chuckled. “Is that what you wanted my advice on?”

“Oh, uh… no, actually.” Mateo went from ebullient to nervous in an instant.

“What’s up?” Austin wished like anything that he could be there in the same room with him.

“So uh… Wow. I guess I didn’t tell you this yet. But this last month… Well, since the Cuffd event, I’ve been painting a lot.”

“That sounds like a good thing,” he said cautiously. “Oh! Are there paintings of me?” If so, it was a surprise but not a bad one. Not if it meant Mateo had been thinking about him. He wasn’t sure how he’d feel about having one displayed in someone else’s home, but he wasn’t necessarily adverse to it either.

“No? I mean… There are paintings inspired by you. Nothing recognizable. Well, one, but I’m not showing that to anyone.”

Now he was intrigued. “Alright…”