Page 18 of Party of Three

Mateo finally found his voice. “You did that for me? Just to get him here?”

Buckley nodded. “I knew how badly you wanted to see him. I could feel it.”

Buckley rubbed Mateo’s back, and for a second, Mateo thought they might be able to let the whole misunderstanding roll by. But it hadn’t simply been a misunderstanding. It had turned into a want, a need, and it was still with him.

“That’s the only reason you wanted him to come?” Mateo asked. “Even after yesterday?”

Buckley caressed the side of Mateo’s face. “Babe, I would never ambush you like that.”

“What happened yesterday?” Jeff asked.

“He told me about Pacific Beach.” Buckley was still staring into Mateo’s eyes, but his look had turned intense.

“What happened in Pacific Beach?” Jeff asked.

“Oh my God. Are you really playing dumb right now?” Buckley asked him.

Jeff’s eyes blazed. “I know whatIthink happened in PB. I want to hear whatMateothinks happened in PB.”

“You first,” Mateo said.

Jeff nodded confidently, but his puckered lips and tense jaw made it clear he was struggling with his next words. “I ruined our friendship, that’s what happened.”

“Nothing that happened in that room was as bad as you going dark on me. And our friendship’s not ruined.” Jeff nodded, studied the floor between them. “And it was more than friendship and you know it.”

Jeff looked up as if a gun had gone off. Mateo was terrified of what he’d said, terrified it would make Buckley run from the room with tears in his eyes. But his boyfriend continued to hold him close.

“You’ve got a boyfriend. A good one. One who’s right for you. That’s what matters now.”

“You’re right,” Mateo said, “and all night I’ve been thinking about you fucking him.”

He’d meant it to sound like a painful confession of his stupidity, of how badly he’d misread the night’s events, but instead the words came from him with more confidence than any he’d spoken since the three of them had stepped into this beautiful, candlelit villa together.

“Babe,” Buckley whispered.

“I’m sorry. I’ve been trying to work up the nerve for it all night ’cause I thought it was the surprise, so I’m a little off center, I guess.”

“A three-way with Jeff?” Buckley asked. “Babe, that’s not something I’d…ambushyou with. I mean, we haven’t done anything with anyone else since we got together. I’d talk to you first. We’d talk about rules and boundaries and what we’re comfortable with. You really think I’d surprise you with something that big?”

Mateo managed a smile. “He’s notthatbig.”

“Shut up, dude. I’m huge.” Jeff’s grin was soft, but it was sincere.

Buckley cleared his throat. “Seriously, babe. This is important to me. I need you to know that I’d never just throw something like that at you without warning. Did you really think I’d do that?”

“I don’t know. You’re…you’re so much more experienced than me in this area. Everything you’ve suggested we do in the bedroom has been kind of amazing. So I figured if I just went along with it, it would be great. Kinda like the kitchen yesterday.”

“The kitchen?” Jeff asked.

Buckley gave him a pointed look. “Don’t ask questions you don’t want answers to.”

“I don’t. What happened in the kitchen?” Jeff repeated.

“When I told him about our little PB excursion, he didn’t get mad. He got turned on. So we kinda relived it. Only the part of that go-go boy was played by Buckley Mitchell. And the part of Jeff Braxton was played by…”

“A zucchini,” Buckley answered.

“You couldn’t find a cucumber?”

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