Page 59 of The Lineman

I winced.

“You did, didn’t you?”

“It washisfault!” I blurted. “He let me pick! Andhewas the one who got a boner first!”

Mateo made a strangled noise. “Michael.”

“What? It’s true!”

“Back the fuck up.” He sounded personally offended. “You got Elliot to pop one first?”

I grinned, walking a little lighter. “Damn right, I did.”

Mateo whistled. “Damn. That’s power.”

“I know, right?”

“So then what? You finally got your kiss?”

“Oh. I got my kiss.”

And just like that, all the teasing left my voice.

Mateo picked up on it instantly.

“Wait,” he said. “That serious?”

I swallowed hard.

Then, softer, quieter, “Yeah, I think it is.”

Mateo was silent for a beat.

“Okay. Talk to me.”

I exhaled. “I was teasing him, you know? Like I always do, but then he—he tripped. Backward over his coffee table.”

“Oh, good. He’s a klutz. That’s super hot.”

“Shut up!” I groaned. “Anyway, he fell, I went to check on him, and then somehow, suddenly I was on top of him.”

Mateo let out a knowing laugh. “Oh, that’s classic.”

“No, you don’t understand.” I stopped walking, gripping the phone tighter. “I could feeleverything.”

Mateo made a noise.

“No,” I said quickly. “Not like that—well, also like that, but—his body, Mateo—”

“Yes, Mike, I gathered he’s built. He’s a lineman.” Mateo snorted.

“No, but you don’t get it. I didn’t get it. I knew he was muscular, but Jesus Christ . . .” I started pacing, reliving it in my head. “He was so . . . solid. Like, everywhere. Hard as a rock. I tried poking a finger, but his muscles wouldn’t budge, wouldn’t give. How does someone even get that hard?”

Mateo made a choked sound. “Michael.”

“What?”

“You can’t just say things like that when I’m drinking water.”