Page 95 of Pretty ’n Peak

But, God. Writing that first text was going to be hard. He hadn’t seen any of these folks in a year.

The doubts crept back in. What if they didn’t want to see him? Or what if they’d taken Cam’s side?

He squeezed his eyes shut. This was the whole purpose of the exercise.

But maybe he could just start with Carlos?

He wasn’t as close as some other friends, but he knew exactly where Carlos stood on things.

He picked up the phone and dictated the text, sending it off before his phone could read it back.

Hey. It was good seeing you last weekend. Want to hang out sometime?

There. That was easier than he’d expected.

And he felt like he’d accomplished something.

His phone chimed a moment later. Text from Carlos, the rapid voice announced when he picked it up.

“Read texts.”

Great seeing you too. This week is slammed, but maybe next week? I’ll be at leather night tomorrow if you want to come.

Austin flipped his phone around on the table as he considered. He had more than one homework assignment, after all.

“Reply to Carlos. Sure.”

16

Mateo

“Mateeeeeeeo! Hey, Teo!”

Mateo jerked, belatedly looking up at his brother, Diego. They were taking a lunch break, sitting on the steps behind the house they were working on with sandwiches from the deli. “What? And don’t call me that.”

“You think we’ll finish up today, or should I say we need another day?”

Mateo reeled his mind back in, going over what was left to do. Some clean-up on the bathroom they’d laid the tile on yesterday. Grouting around the sink and tub. Oh, and that thing with the faucet that Nate said was a problem. Plus whatever Diego had been doing in the living room. If it all went well, they’d finish this afternoon, but there was always something that took a little longer. “I’d plan on coming back. Maybe just a couple hours.”

Mateo took another bite of his sandwich, his thoughts already drifting back to the weekend.

The heat of the crop falling across his back. The way Austin had thrust into his throat, hard and deep. The feeling of lace, stretched across his skin…

“Mateo!”

“Huh?”

“Dude, ¿Qué te pasa?”

“Nothing. Just distracted I guess.” By the way Austin had looked at him when he called him beautiful boy.

Diego snickered. “It’s that girl, isn’t it?”

“What girl?” he asked, genuinely confused.

“Come on. We all know what ‘mountains’ you were climbing last weekend.”

Mateo made a face. “That was bad even for you. There isn’t a girl.”