"So, this is where you live?" Derek parked the car on the road and looked around.

From the driver's seat, he could see what Matteo meant by living in the countryside. The property was surrounded by wide fences, full of trees that climbed high above the barbed wire that protected the perimeter of the property, and there was a large wooden gate that allowed a view of the land that stretched for miles.

“It’s no big deal,” Matteo finally said, shrugging.

Derek watched him for a while and didn't want to accept it. He wasn't that kind of man, was he...? A man who was attracted to a boy who barely had a beard on his face? Because there he was, a man in the body of a teenager, so handsome that Matteo almost seemed delicate, so vulnerable that Derek began to worry for his safety.

But there it was, he couldn't deny it, this was the sign Derek needed to see, the clearest indication that something between them had changed. 

It didn't take long for Derek to realize what was happening. He noticed it just as Matteo was finishing his soup and was getting into the car. What was supposed to be a trivial joke, something to see how long Matteo would continue to act like this responsible and honorable person, had become something he couldn't have predicted, because, in the end, the one who had lost was him.

Soon they were on the move. Matteo had followed him down the stairs, eating while he and the children watched him closely, and just as he was leaving, Matteo gave the children a tight hug as if he were saying goodbye. Then he grabbed his bag from the couch and when the children finally let go of him, he walked out of the house, Derek following closely behind, afraid that he would faint at any moment. 

Still, Derek couldn't quite pinpoint what had changed. The air around them had become lighter and, at the same time, static, with a soft electricity that emanated as the minutes passed by, something that made the hairs on his arms stand on end, forcing him to pay more attention to Matteo, appreciating him in a way that had a certain... fantasy involved, he admitted, something forbidden that was so close that, if Derek really wanted, he just had to reach out and take what he desired.

Matteo didn't act like he used to either, it was like he suddenly felt comfortable and didn't feel the need to fill the silence with idle conversations. The look he gave him when their eyes met the few times during the car ride was an obvious "I want you, but I'm taken." Matteo didn't even try to hide it, his eyes said much more than his previous words could; which in turn made him anxious and positively physically uncomfortable. 

Derek refused to accept that. Someone having a crush on you was one thing, knowing that the possibility of it was real was another. It must be cosmic revenge, Matteo doing to him what Derek had done first.

"Derek." Matteo called his name and in the silence of the car, it sounded hoarse and low, something intimate, just to tease him a little more.

Derek stared at him, now paying all the attention he had to offer. Matteo wasn't exactly smiling, it was more the way his eyes sparkled, as though he was hiding something behind them. His lips were also relaxed, almost showing his dimples.

"I think I have a solution for you.”

"Solution?" Did Matteo have a cure for… this?

"Yes, a cook." Matteo said amused.

"A cook?" He repeated.

This time, Matteo actually smiled and shook his head.

"You know the restaurant where I bought the food? They always accept work. Are you interested? I have their phone number.”

"Ah." Derek muttered. He ended up smiling too, feeling ridiculous.

Matteo picked up his bag from the floor of the car and took his cell phone out of it.

"I'll share their phone number. Tell them Matt recommended you.”

"Matt, is it? How charming.”

Matteo blushed so beautifully that Derek was happy to know that he was still capable of causing that in him. Satisfied, he got out of the car, walked around it and helped Matteo out, holding him by the waist and placing him on the ground, soon after hearing a soft thank you and a deep voice coming from inside the property.

"Matteo Rossi Pagano! Ah, he finally graces us with his presence.”

Derek looked at the gate and there stood a tall, muscular black man, no older than forty but who looked too young to be anyone's father. Derek only recognized him because of his rough, gruff voice, the same one he had heard on the phone and with the same Italian accent that Matteo had. No, Derek was lying. Matteo also had the same dark eyes, thin nose and full lips.

Derek immediately put a smile on his face and approached the gate, extending his hands in greeting:

"It's a pleasure to finally meet you.”

"It's a shame I can't say the same." Mr. Pagano replied. He crossed his arms and stared at him without showing any sympathy. "Aren't you ashamed? He's old enough to be your son.”

“I think--”

“Papa! What are you saying!?” Matteo practically screeched beside him. He ran forward and unlocked the gate, speaking very close to his father. Unfortunately, Derek could hear every word.

"He's my boss. He was kind enough to come to my rescue. Could you be a little more polite, please?”

"Matteo. This is not the behavior I expect from you. I let you date the Lewis boy, now, this… straniero? What are you thinking?”

"Papa!”

"You slept at his house!”

"He had an event and I ended up falling asleep! He wasn't even there!”

"Matteo.”

"You don't believe me? Okay. But don't interfere in my life.”

"Listen here! As long as you live under my roof--”

"Really? Don't worry. Soon you won't have to worry anymore.”

"Who do you think you are, you brat!”

That's when Derek saw that things were getting out of hand. Mr. Pagano raised his hand and Derek feared the worst. Before he could think straight, Derek moved and placed himself in the middle of them, being hit squarely in the right shoulder. If it weren't for Derek defending himself by raising his arm, he would have been punched right in the jaw.

"Mr. Pagano. Calm down, nothing happened. I never--”

"I know very well what men like you want. Fancy cars and weak little boys. Something easy to manipulate, hm?”

The man then gave a wicked little laugh that not even he could have done better and marched into the property, leaving him and Matteo open-mouthed because of his fury.

***

"What just happened?”

"Welcome to my life." Matteo murmured absently. He was still staring at his father's back, watching him as the man disappeared down the dirt road and into the vegetation.

"Matteo." Derek said, moved. Now Derek understood everything. He understood why Matteo at that age was working instead of studying.

"Oh, did you hurt yourself? My father can be heavy-handed.”

Derek stopped and watched, feeling like he was just a spectator. He watched Matteo reach out and touch his shoulder and arm, he saw the careful way Matteo massaged the place, looking into his eyes, asking for permission, his expression saying how guilty he felt. He couldn't help it, Derek smiled at Matteo's reaction and returned the caress, touching the little boy's black hair, thinking that although he was the injured one, Matteo was the one who needed help. I mean, it wasn't even hurting. Much. Just a little.

"Ouch." It escaped before he could stop it when Matteo's fingers brushed against the spot Mr. Pagano had hit.

“I’m so sorry!” Matteo hurried to apologize. He massaged more gently and the pain eased.

"It was nothing.”

"You should fire me! In less than a day I traumatized your children and got you beaten. What kind of professional am I?”

"Matteo, really.”

"No, let's put some ice in there, okay? It'll be quick.”

So, leaving the car in the middle of the road, Matteo took him by the hand and guided him to the huge house in the center of the property where Derek could hear more voices, sounds of chairs and instruments rumbling only to find a group of people standing outside it.

"Mamma!" Matteo ran to where his mother was and knelt on the ground with her, hugging her tightly.

"Figlio mio! Mamma was so worried. Did they take good care of you? Let me see.”

Maria took off the thick gloves she used to work the soil and held him by his face, and only when she was sure that everything was okay did she let him go, smiling slightly, and very satisfied.

"Don't do that again, okay? Now, have you eaten? Have you had a good rest?”

"Mamma, stop it. Derek is the one who needs help.”

"Derek, hmm?" She asked with a smile, winking at Matteo.

"My employer " Matteo made it clear.

"What an employer, huh!”

"Mamma! Don't let Papa hear you.”

"That silly old man." Maria waved her hands in denial. "He never learns.”

Derek found that interaction funny and decided to approach them. The most incredible thing was that Maria Rossi Pagano was not what he would expect from a mother who lived in the countryside. She was no more than thirty years old, with light brown skin tanned by the sun, honey-brown eyes and thin lips that were now stretched into a sweet smile, identical to the way Matteo had smiled at him that same afternoon.

"Welcome. I'm glad Matteo is making friends." He found those words strange, but accepted the greeting when she offered her hands. "I know it must have been a hassle to come all the way here. Thank you for taking care of him.”

"Mamma! I give up, you're incorrigible." Matteo shook his head, denying it to himself, but with all the affection possible.

"And you." Matteo said to him "Stay here, I'll get some ice.”

"Ice?" Maria said.

"It was a little accident--”

"Papa hit him. Can you believe it?" Matteo said as he walked away, making him feel a little embarrassed, but enjoying himself more than he should in a situation like this. It was funny, it had been over a decade since he felt like he was going to meet the parents of a new girlfriend. Or boyfriend. Derek wasn't the prejudiced type.

Maria put her hand over her mouth and gasped. He had to laugh, it was exactly how Matteo would act. Well, it was exactly how Matteo had acted, all over the place and dramatic.

"I'm so sorry, Derek. I don't know how to apologize.”

"It's no problem. It was just a graze, nothing a good night's sleep can't cure.”

"You are very polite. Thank you for understanding. We want the best for Matteo. I would like you to consider that.”

Consider… oh. Did they really think…?

"Ma'am, there's nothing to consider. I pay Matteo to take care of my children.”

"Just that?" She placed her hands in her lap and looked down. "Matteo is an impressionable boy. He never had many friends, you know? So when men, especially like you, show up…

“Ma’am.” Derek sighed, wearily. “Matteo is too young. I would never… consider that.”

"I'm glad. As long as we can protect him, that's what we'll do. We're afraid that the worst will happen at college.”

“And what would that be?" He wanted to know.

"That I act like a slut." Derek heard Matteo's voice coming from behind him and turned around. And indeed, Matteo was carrying an ice pack in his hands. "Even though they know I have a boyfriend.”

“Hm.” Derek said, not commenting on it. Because at that moment, Matteo didn’t seem like the innocent and shy or even vulnerable person that everyone thought he was. No, Derek could see someone who would be successful in the future, someone capable, someone who wouldn’t let anything get in his way.

He liked that.

"You want me to…" Matteo showed him the ice pack and he understood.

Derek shrugged and, right there, in front of those people, took off his shirt and let Matteo place the ice against the red spot on his shoulder that was starting to turn purple.

He gasped and Matteo stared at him, his eyes wide and full of guilt.

“Sir…”

"I thought that had stayed in the past.”

"Derek. I'm really sorry.”

But Derek didn't feel it. How could Derek when Matteo looked at him like that and touched his shoulder so gently? How could he be angry when those sweet eyes looked at him with such concern?

He heard someone clear their throat beside him, making him turn towards them. It was a little girl with curly hair the same shade as Maria and the same honey-colored eyes that lit up even more vividly under the sun's rays.

"Hi, I'm Alessia. And this is Bianca. And that's Ben." She smiled at Derek and indicated each person, each ranging from thirteen to thirty years old.

"Nice to meet you. "He said back, still distracted by Matteo's hands that were now sliding the ice pack over his reddened skin, only now realizing that maybe they were too close.