Page 27 of Spark
“Aileene is the brains behind the science of it. I’m wondering how viable it is.” It’s nice having someone to talk to about work who’s not one of my siblings. The last guy I dated giggled every time I referenced work or said the word condom. Even our parents didn’t think buying the independent condom manufacturing company was a good business move. But Aileene, Cam, and I have worked our asses off over the years to build the company. Now, the bigger, well-known companies are getting scared. Last year, one offered to buy us out. The three of us would have been set up to never work another day in our lives, but the other company planned to move the operation out of Philadelphia. All of our employees would have lost their jobs, and that’s something none of us could allow.
Mateo tilts his head. “Hmm. I don’t know. A spray-on condom isn’t something I’ve ever thought about. I guess I’d have to know more about how it works to be able to answer the question.”
My lips part. This is what I like about this man. He’s thoughtful. He takes what I do seriously. “That’s fair. I can tell you more about it over brunch on Sunday.”
“I can’t believe I don’t get to see you until then.” Almost indiscernibly, his shoulders tip forward and for the briefest of seconds I tense, hoping he doesn’t ask me to come to the game on Saturday. My nerves are already a twisted thatch of thorny vines worrying about Cam on game days. Add Mateo to the mix and my anxiety will pulverize me. But the ache in his voice spurs me to bolster his mood.
“Maybe the next time you find yourself with a free hour, you’ll find someplace more private, and we can—”
“Finlay.” The door to my office swings open, banging against the wall as Cam strides in. When he sees me with my cell in front of my face, he quirks a brow. “Who are you talking to?”
“Hey, Cam,” Mateo calls, and I turn the phone for Cam to see.
My annoying brother crosses his arms with a self-assured smugness that on anyone else would be obnoxious. On Cam, it’s somehow endearing. “Teo. Good to see you, man.”
“Can this wait? Mateo doesn’t have much time.” And I don’t want to waste our precious minutes with my brother interfering.
“No. It can’t wait.” He sticks out his tongue like the mature adult he is. “I just got off the phone with Gran. She’s starring in a cabaret at the senior center, and she wants us to come.”
“I know. Isn’t it next month?”
“They have an opportunity to use the Painted Bride, so they’re doing a show tomorrow night, in addition to the one next month. Gran said she forgot to tell us but wants us to come.”
I pinch my nose and say to Mateo, “Gran tends to throw events at us with little notice.” Then I focus on Cam. “I was going to paint the mudroom tomorrow night.”
Cam grunts. “You’re kidding, right? If you don’t go, Gran will show up at your door with the entire cast and put on the performance in your living room.”
Mateo chuckles. “I’ve heard so many stories about your gran over the years, I feel like I know her.”
“I’m ordering tickets. How many do you want?” Cam’s thumbs fly over the screen of his phone. “Aileene wants two.” He looks up. “Who do you think she’s bringing? I didn’t even know she was seeing anyone.”
“That’s because she’s smart and keeps you in the dark.” I have no idea if Aileene is seeing anyone or not. Hmm… It’s been at least two months since the two of us have hung out. And longer since I hung out with just Cam. I need to make a point to schedule something with each of them. I turn my attention back to Mateo who’s watching our exchange with amusement. “You don’t want to go to a cabaret fundraiser for a senior center, do you? I’m sure it will be more scandalous than anything you’ll see at the club.”
His response is immediate. “I’d love to.”
I blink. “Um, excuse me?”
“I’d love to meet your gran. I’ll have to make some calls to get someone to cover my shift, but it shouldn’t be a problem. Jalen owes me for filling in for him last month when his hockey game ran into overtime.”
“You’re serious?” I glance at Cam, whose eyes are as huge as his shit-eating grin.
“Yep.” His face radiates sincerity and… excitement? Who would be excited to see a bunch of seniors dance and sing? I mean, I love Gran, but I’d rather be home on a Friday night than watching her “shake her groove thang.” Her words, not mine. “Put me down for a ticket. Let me see if I can get a hold of Jalen now. I’ll text you once I hear from him.”
“Yeah. Okay.” My eyes dart to Cam and back as I flounder with what to say. “I’ll talk to you later.”
“Sounds good. Later, Cam,” Mateo says.
Cam waves and the screen goes blank.
“Holy shit!” Cam is standing in front of my desk with a look like he just won mid-field, front row seats to an All Blacks game. “This is big. You know this is big, right?” He drops into a chair. “I mean, this is huge.” He fans his hand across the air as he sayshugelike a sports commentator.
I’m not sure what to make of it. On more than one occasion, Mateo has commented about how limited his time is, and I can appreciate that. But the leap in my chest when he said he wanted to come was unexpected. Trying to find my equilibrium while my brother bounces around like Olive in the princess bouncy house is next to impossible. I rub the tingle that touches the base of my neck. “It’s a little soon to have him meet Gran, but it’ll be okay.”
“Not that, you doofus. Mateo is taking off work. Mateonevertakes off work. Foranything.” Cam smacks his hand down on my desk. “He smashed the hell out of his thumb on his day job. The thing swelled up so much it looked like something you’d see in a cartoon. Then, on the same day, his truck broke down on the Schuylkill Expressway at rush hour. Anyone else would have saidscrew itand called out, especially with a part-time job. Not, Mateo. He called a freaking Uber to pick him up on the side of the road and take him to Alter Ego. If he hadn’t called me to get his tool belt and rugby equipment out of his truck, I would never have known.” Cam shakes his head in disbelief. “He didn’t even want me to stay with the truck until the tow truck came. I did, because I’m not an asshole.”
“So he’s conscientious.” Warmth spreads through my chest even as I try to downplay what this means.
“No. He—” Cam pauses as if he’s weighing his words, which is unusual since he’s known for expressing any and all thoughts that pop into his head. “It’s not for me to say… but this is beyond big, Fin.” Elbows on his knees, he leans in. “With the exception of Wednesday practice and our Saturday games, he’s done nothing but work for the last year and a half. You must really mean something to him if he’s willing to lose out on a night’s pay.”
