His parents had hoped so. Diego couldn’t let them down. “Te amo,Mamá,” he told her. “Take care of yourself.”
After the call ended, Diego flopped back on his bed and stared up at the ceiling. She’d certainly be disappointed if she knew he was heading back to their hometown to spend the night with Brody. That just thinking about Brody made Diego’s heart race. All he wanted to do was get in his car and drive back to Cielo Springs and rest in Brody’s arms after spending the evening talking and making dinner for the boys,
Sad, disgusted… confused, at the very least. Another deep breath and Diego stood. He headed for the shower where, hopefully, the hot water would bring clarity and shake this dark funk from his thoughts.
“Two weekends in a row. For queers, that’s practically engaged.” Ash stepped out of the kitchen wearing a flowing sheer lilac robe, with an insulated coffee mug in his hand. Three kittens followed him as he walked. “My friends are all jealous that I’ve got this place to myself so often.”
Diego stood in the living room with his backpack and guitar case. “That’s funny. I thought the same thing. We’re never around at the same time. But I’ll only be gone one night. The band’s playing tomorrow and I’m working all day Sunday.”
“So, you like this boy?” Ash settled on the sofa with his coffee. The kittens had figured out how to jump on the furniture, and now they were curled up next to him.
“Yeah, I do. We’ve always been different people, different experiences, and that hasn’t changed. But wefit, if that makes sense.” For some reason, it was easier for Diego to talk to Ash about this rather than his group of close friends. He told himself it was because they were busy with their lives, but that wasn’t all of it.
Why did he feel the need to hide how he felt, to keep everyone—including himself—at arm’s length about his affection for Brody?
Affection—even that was a copout. Diego loved that man, even if they weren’t ready to say the word yet. He sat on the old recliner. “So, how are thing going with you?”
Ash stretched out on the sofa as the kittens climbed onto his lap. “You know that community college down off Belton Avenue? I enrolled in a couple of classes for the next semester. She’s going to be an educated queen,” Ash added, touching his forehead. “Gonna meet me some college dick.”
Diego snorted. “Good luck with that. Why this sudden decision to go to school?”
Ash shrugged. “I’ve been talking to this guy. He’s been encouraging me to think about furthering my education. Even told me that I can help the cats by helping myself.”
“He sounds like a good friend,” Diego said.
“Oh, he is. Funny thing is, I’ve never actually met him in person. No idea what he looks like. We just send each other nudes when we’re fucking around with other people. But he’s supportive and listens to all my stupid problems. Honestly, this might be the healthiest relationship I’ve ever had.” Ash raised his brow as if surprised.
Diego stared at his roommate. “That’s—”
Ash nodded in agreement. “Yeah. There’s always something funky happening in my general vicinity. It’s my love language.” He stood, kittens chasing his robe as he moved. “Thanks again for the phone number for that rescue organization. I called them and we’re supposed to meet up for a big cat adoptathon next week.” Ash’s face radiated a joy when he talked about his cats. “And you have a safe trip. Tell your boo I said, ‘What’s up, Cutie?’ and that he better treat you right, or he’ll have Miss Ash to deal with.”
Diego grinned. This kid was alright. “Will do. Talk to you when I get back.”
Clear blue skies on a crisp December day helped brighten his mood, and traffic on I-10 moved steadily along as he hit the Cielo Springs city limits. They’d decorated downtown for the holidays, and the main street lined with small shops, all filled with people shopping for Christmas. He smiled at the nostalgic picture it made. “This place isn’t all bad, I guess,” he murmured to himself as he turned toward Brody’s farm.
Diego parked next to Brody’s truck in front of his house and the sound of dogs barking echoed in his ears as he stepped out of his car. Shouldering his backpack, he grabbed his guitar and walked around to the back of the house, where he spotted Audra working with their dogs. He waved at her as he approached. “Something looks different. Wait—that one’s new.” He grinned, pointing at the yard. “The orange dog. That dog wasn’t here last week.”
“She was not.” Audra stepped out of the fenced area and giving Diego a hug. She pointed at a young dog with bright eyes and a long pink tongue. “I pulled her from a shelter earlier this week. She’s smart and picking up commands super quick. I think the puppies are learning more from watching her than from me,” she added with a laugh. Then she nodded at the barn. “Brody’s in there. Funding from the grant came through, so he and Aaron bought new kennels.”
Diego reached down to pet the new dog and laughed as the retriever puppies scampered over each other to get to him. “I missed these guys. It’s been a while since I’ve had dogs around.” He used to, when he and Nolan would foster them, but after Nolan started dating his current boyfriend, that all stopped. “Right now, my apartment is full of cats, and it’s not quite the same. Are you and Aaron staying for dinner?” Diego asked as he stood and faced Audra.
“We are not.” She linked her arm with Diego’s as they walked toward the barn. “My husband and I are heading into San Antonio for a theatre show and dinner. And we should leave soon,” she added, her voice rising as they swung the barn door open. “Otherwise, we’ll be late for the show.”
Brody and Aaron both glanced up from their newly completed kennels and indoor dog runs. “Wow.” Diego took it all in. He’d seen some kennels at various shelters in his work with the dog rescue in Houston, but this was top quality. He noticed rolls of insulation leaning against the back of the barn. “Is that for in here too?”
“It is.” Brody approached them, opening his arms to hug Diego. “Glad you made it safe.”
Aaron reached out and shook Diego’s hand. “We figured that it’s cheaper to renovate this building than tear it down and build a new one. Besides, I kinda like the look of the barn.”
“That’s ‘cause you didn’t grow up cleaning one out. I don’t know if we’ll ever get the smell of horseshit out of there.”
“Well, that’s okay. I think the dogs like it,” Aaron said with a snort, then caught his wife’s glare. “And with that, gentlemen, we’ll be on our way. Do you need help to put the dogs up?”
Brody shook his head. “I got Diego here. We’ll put them up later when it gets dark.” All of them headed into the house and after Aaron and Audra left, Brody reached for Diego’s backpack and tossed it on the sofa. Diego set his guitar down next to it and as he turned, Brody’s arms wrapped tight around him. Their lips met in a crushing kiss and before Diego knew it, they’d walked into Brody’s bedroom, cool and dark.
They were alone.
Diego kicked off his shoes as Brody tugged at his hoodie. In less than a minute, they were both naked, stretched out along the length of Brody’s bed.
