Page 46 of All's Fair in Love and Pizza
Something had changed between us after the morning we’d gone surfing. I found myself listening for the sound of his voice, staring at him across the counter, or finagling a way to brush against him in a crowded room. This was what happened when you had prolonged episodes of amazing sex: You developed…feelings.
I didn’t want to have feelings for Mateo. Nothing serious, anyway.
We’d agreed on a no-strings “friends with bennies” deal, and I was determined to stick to my end of the bargain.
Unfortunately, feelings were leaking out and people were beginning to notice.
Okay…Amber noticed.
“So…funny story.” Amber flipped her curly hair over her shoulder and wiggled on the barstool at my kitchen island. “I drove by your house last night, and Mateo’s car was in the driveway. I thought, ‘Wow, those two have come a long way. I love that they’ve set aside their differences and have embraced the bake-off challenge.’ I wondered what you could possibly be collaborating on at this late stage of the game, and whatever it was, I didn’t want to disturb you. But gee, guess whose car was still here this morning?”
“Amber…”
She lifted her coffee mug and hid her smug grin for a beat. “Sharing is caring. What’s going on, Robbie?”
“I…uh…”
I fiddled with the cap to my water bottle, wishing I’d had my speech better planned. I’d known this day would come. Amber knew me too well.
“Are you and Mateo…more than friends?”
“No. I mean…yes, but it’s not serious,” I said in a rush. “And it’s not—no one knows, so?—”
“Oh, honey. Let me stop you right there.” She cast a sharp no-nonsense look my way. “I know.”
I gulped. “Ah.”
“Okay, I didn’t know for sure, but I had an idea.” Her eyes twinkled mischievously. “For the record, I approve.”
“It’s not…we’re not…” I cleared my throat and tried again. “We’re friends who…”
“Do the nasty,” she finished. “Got it. And you’re acting weird about this because…why? You’re out and he’s out and?—”
“But I’m not out…all the way. And I don’t know what the media BS will be like. It could be nothing.”
“Or…it could be sensational. NFL star and his former college teammate—oh. Mateo was drafted too. Two NFL stars reunite in their college town to?—”
“No. See, that’s what we’re not going to do.” I wiped my clammy palms on my jeans, then crossed my arms and stared at the ocean view through my kitchen window. “I’m nervous enough about doing this on my own. I’m not dragging Mateo into a potential shit show.”
“Hey.” Amber stood abruptly and skirted the island. “What makes you think it’ll be a shit show?”
“The operative word is potential. I don’t know what to expect, Am, but I’d be foolish to think I’ll be hailed as some kind of queer hero. And I don’t want that, anyway. I want a quiet life. That’swhy I moved here. I don’t want a spotlight. I just want to get the coming-out part over with so I can run a bagel empire in peace. But first, we have a bake-off to win. Or lose.”
Amber studied me. “Have you talked to Bill?”
“Yeah, I told him I want to wait a month or so. He’s coming to the finale, and knowing Bill, he’ll want to put a date on the calendar and get a PR team ready to roll. You know him. He doesn’t do anything small,” I huffed, leaning against the counter.
“A blessing and a curse. He’s been good for your career,” she commented matter-of-factly.
I nodded, knitting my brow as another thought stirred uneasily in my head.
“Bill told me he remembered Mateo.” I shared Bill’s insights regarding Mateo’s brief foray in the league. “I can see some hotshot reporter digging into his past and coming up with a negative twist to sell a story that he never intended to tell. That’s not happening on my watch.”
Amber narrowed her eyes. “Does Mateo know any of this?”
“No, but…that’s the point. Whatever we have going on is new. He barely even liked me last summer. I’m not pushing him into anything he’s not ready for.”
“Shouldn’t he get a say in that?”
