As they ate their breakfast Emilio went back and forth on asking about last night. 

He wanted to know what had happened, be taken through a play by play of everything he’d done and said. But he also felt scared and anxious about finding out the details. 

He decided the blackout was probably for the best, and besides, Mateo seemed like a really decent guy and if he said nothing had happened then Emilio decided to trust him on that. 

"Oh, wow," Emilio said as Mateo pulled out his phone to check a text.

Emilio stared at Mateo's dinosaur of a phone. 

"A statement piece?" he asked.  

Mateo grimaced, as if his phone was cause for constant interrogation. 

"Usually, but not on purpose." He said placing his phone on the table and taking another bite of food. 

"Not many people still have flip phones, especially people our age." 

"It gets the job done," Mateo shrugged. 

"So do newer phones."

"Your phones?" Mateo asked, feeling all too aware of the fact that he was talking to the tech genius himself.

Emilio grinned. "I mean, yeah, but," he shrugged, "I'm not saying you have to go out and buy an E-phone. Just curious."

Mateo sighed and explained himself for the thousandth time over. "It’s not that I’m against new phones, I'm just used to it, it's what I've always had.”

"So, you're the nostalgic type?"

Mateo shrugged, "Maybe I am. Plus new phones are expensive, and people just buy new ones every year."

“I saw that old computer in your room, with the computer tower taking up all the legroom under your desk. But you've also got that fancy laptop on your coffee table."

"An Everhart laptop." Mateo said and smirked as he added a, "you're welcome." 

Emilio chuckled. "But with good reason right? All of our devices are top of the line, cutting edge-"

"Save me the sales pitch Mr.Everhart," Mateo said, a small smile playing on his lips. "We already went through all that for your interview."

Emilio laughed, not normally used to getting cut off. He took another bite of his food, waiting till he was done chewing before talking again.

“Speaking of the interview, it was good. I really liked your questions.”

Mateo looked surprised and flattered. “Really?”

“Yeah.” Emilio nodded.

“Well, you’re the one that let me ask them.” 

The morning of their interview, Emilio’s pr team had emailed Mateo a premade list of specifically tailored questions he was supposed to ask. At the bottom of the email, in bold letters, it said he was not to ask Emilio any questions that weren’t on the list.

Mateo had looked at his own carefully handwritten list of questions in his notebook, a list of questions he’d been working on nonstop for the past two weeks since he’d gotten the assignment. He felt disappointed he wouldn’t get to ask any of them, but he realized he should have expected it.

When he finally got to talk to Emilio on the phone he only got through the first three questions when Emilio asked him if he had any of his own questions he wanted to ask. 

“It’s definitely on my top ten favorite interviews,” Emilio said, “maybe even top five. Definitely favorite interview of this year so far.”

Mateo laughed, then covered his mouth, “I’m sorry, it’s just… I’m with OTP,” he said, wanting that to sink in, “weren’t you interviewed by The Marble last week?” 

“Yeah, for their 30 under 30.” Emilio said, taking another sip from his shake then added, “I can’t believe I’m turning 30 next month… Anyways, it wasn’t as good as your interview.”

“That’s my dream job, working at The Marble. A buddy of mine got hired there last month. Eventually, I want to follow his steps, leave OTP and get hired there.” 

Emilio walked around Mateo’s apartment, trying to see if anything jogged his memory.

He stopped in the living room, looking at some open sketchbooks on the coffee table. 

He picked one up and started looking through it. 

“You drew these?” He asked, glancing back at Mateo who was washing the dishes.

“Um…” Mateo strained his neck to see what Emilio was looking at, his eyes widened. “Yeah.” He said, quickly drying his hands and making his way to Emilio.

Just as Mateo reached him, Emilio saw a picture that caught his eye.

“You know—for future reference—” Mateo said grabbing the sketchbook from Emilio’s hand, and snapping it closed, “it’s polite to ask someone before you start flipping through their things.”

“Sorry—it’s just—I mean, we already had sex, right?” Emilio said. “So, what's there left to hide?”

“For the last time!” Mateo could feel heat rushing to his cheeks as he put away his sketchbooks, "We didn't have—"

“Yeah?” Emilio asked, a smirk on his face.

That annoyingly cute smirk made Mateo’s heart skip a beat and his face flush. 

“We didn’t have sex.” Mateo finally said, as calmly as he could. 

“I know.” Emilio said, taking his time as he looked Mateo up and down. Mateo was taller and fitter than him. 

You would have probably torn me in two, he thought, figuring Mateo was the athletic type. 

With another playful smirk he added, “I guess I just like seeing you get all flustered and stuff...” 

Before giving Mateo a chance to react Emilio turned and headed to the kitchen, walking to the sink to finish washing the dishes Mateo had left. 

He was quiet for a moment as he tried to hear Mateo's reaction. Then he gave in and glanced back at him. 

Mateo's face was beet red, which made Emilio grin. 

Somehow though, Mateo still managed to make a show of rolling his eyes at Emilio, which made Emilio grin even wider.

Author's Note

Hello! I hope you're enjoying the story so far! Emilio sure is having fun toying with Mateo!

Please make sure to leave a like on the chapters, and even a comment if you can!  <3