“Nice to meet you,” Derek said. And him? Matteo continued to run the ice over Derek’s broad shoulders, allowing himself to look. Maybe touch a little. What? Weren’t they so sure he was a whore? Matteo was just trying to live up to their expectations.

Unfortunately, Matteo had to pay attention to Alessia when she started talking and making conversation with Derek. Matteo loved his sister, he really did. Alessia was his favorite person in the whole world, but Matteo felt like if he didn't butt in, they'd even ask about the tenth generation of Derek's family. Matteo knew he rarely brought people home, the only one being Diego, so maybe they weren't so wrong after all?

It didn't matter, before the massacre could happen, Matteo turned to his brothers, glaring at them.

"Yeah, everything's great. Now it's time for me to walk Derek to the door.”

"Nooo! We never have visitors. And no one is so--”

"Alessia!”

"I was going to say, generous.”

Alessia let out a soft chuckle, her eyes sparkling and he looked at Bianca, asking for help with his eyes. She shrugged, seeming to enjoy the show while Ben, his adoptive brother, just watched everything with a smirk on his lips.

"Derek has to stay for dinner! Dad even cooked.”

"I don't want to abuse the hospitality." Derek smiled at Alessia and something inside him turned, seeing them like this, so... comfortable with each other. Alessia practically hanging on to Derek's uninjured arm and Derek smiling, all charming, still holding the shirt in his hand.

He took a deep breath and opened his eyes again, seeing that Alessia was already dragging Derek into the house. His brothers followed them happily, of course, while his mother just laughed as happily as they did, still kneeling in the dirt, going back to making holes in the soil and throwing the seeds to fill the holes again.

In the end, Matteo reluctantly followed them into the house. He followed them in, took off his shoes, and walked through the front door, leaving his bag by the foot of the door. The house was a compact but a spacious building, built in ancient times. From where he stood, he could see the entrance to the dining room, an open space that divided the living room, right in front of the exit door and next to the kitchen, with the bedrooms and most of the bathrooms located upstairs.

He didn't think much, he walked barefoot to the table where all his brothers and father sat and stopped in front of Derek. He barely paid attention to the smile on the man's face, he just took the shirt and the ice pack from his hands and went to get rid of them. He hung the shirt on the coat rack that was in a corner of the room and took the ice pack to the kitchen, putting more ice on it and returned to the room. He placed the ice pack on Derek's shoulder once more and then took his plate, putting pasta, meatballs and salad on it.

"Do you like wine?”

"Matteo, it's not necessary--”

Matteo wasn't really listening; of course Derek liked it, he had seen several types of drinks at Derek's house. He opened the bottle of dry wine that was on the table, poured a shot for Derek and in the other glass, he put some water, finally sitting down and making his own plate.

"Derek, do you need help? Let me…" He didn't even pay attention to what he was doing, he cut the meatballs for Derek and then, he heard a noise. Someone cleared their throat, breaking the silence that Matteo didn't even realize was happening.

Matteo looked up and put down his cutlery. Why were they looking at him like that? He was just helping, it had become a habit in the few days he had worked for Derek.

"Did I do something wrong?" Matteo turned to Derek since it seemed like no one was going to tell him.

"Of course not, dear.”

It was his turn to remain silent, as the one who had answered him and called him “dear” had been Derek.

"I'm not your, dear.”

“That's what it looks like when you do these things.”

"Oh." So that was it?

However, Derek didn't speak to him in that ironic tone, it was more like he was trying to show Matteo something without shocking him too much.

“But thank you." Derek finished.

Derek brought his hands to Matteo's shoulders and squeezed gently, his smile sincere and small. Matteo swallowed, of course, preferring to look at Derek rather than face his family watching them. Maybe inviting Derek in hadn't been such a good idea, maybe if he ran to his room he could escape the humiliation.

In slow motion, Matteo watched Derek take the first bite of pasta to his lips and groan before swallowing, feeling something uncomfortable and warm take over his body. Fortunately, that was the moment Leonel decided to interrupt the path his thoughts were taking.

"Derek Moore, hmm? Why haven't I heard anything about you until now?”

So it was going to be like this? Straight to the point?

"I started working for him a week ago.”

Another silence fell and perhaps he was beginning to understand their reason.

"Did you know each other before?”

“No, sir,” Derek replied this time, his smile changing, becoming sharper.

No, gods! Don't say anything. Don't say anything. Don't say anything... was all Matteo could think. Though he knew what was about to happen by the way Derek tilted his head, listening in disbelief to what came next:

"It must be our chemistry.”

Matteo saw Leonel' face turn red with fury while Alessia lowered her head, laughing discreetly. Bianca, unlike her, threw her head back and laughed like she had heard the best joke of all times.

"My little brother is finally learning. He even seems like a normal person. I'm so proud!" Bianca said happily and put her hand over her heart, her eyes tearing up from laughing so much. And Matteo? All that was left was to cover his face and not burst into flames instantly.

***

"No, no! He's joking. Right?" Matteo said as soon as he was sure he wouldn't die of embarrassment.

"Of course, Matteo. We're just playing around.”

Someone help him, please!

"I'm sorry." It was Derek's turn to laugh. He grabbed Matteo's shoulder again and didn't seem the least bit sorry, staring at him for a long moment.

Derek came closer and whispered so that no one but them could hear.

"I'm sorry. I promised I wouldn't do that again. Are you okay? I'll behave now, seriously.”

"Whatever." Matteo sighed in defeat. "You always do that.”

"I won't do it anymore. It's just that you're so easy to tease. And your father is even easier, he's so hot-headed.”

"Could you please not bring me any more trouble? Could you?”

"I can. I promise. I'm really sorry.”

Derek then pulled away a little and caressed the back of Matteo's neck, massaging the hair there and making him gasp softly. Matteo didn't know where this gesture had come from, but he knew he shouldn't allow this to happen. Mainly because he knew Derek only did this to annoy Leonel even more.

Well, that was the moment he realized his mistake; they were standing too close, whispering in each other's ears. How could Matteo say that there was nothing between him and Derek when they were showing the exact opposite to his family? He had even… even taken Derek to meet them! It was like Matteo was introducing his new boyfriend!

Trying to hide it, he moved away from Derek as if he had been shocked and looked at Leonel. He was looking at him seriously, neither angry nor happy. There was something calculating, almost analytical in his gaze, as if his father was making up his mind, dissecting the information he had received.

"What do you do, again?”

"I am a researcher and have a master's degree from a federal university.”

"What exactly does that mean?”

"I develop theses, I do tests if necessary and I am a teacher.”

"Interesting. In what areas?”

"History, art, finance and administration.”

"Wow, that's so cool!" Alessia commented.

"So, you're a scholar. Does that make money?" Leonel asked again.

"Not at first. My parents have a biophysics lab and a pharmacy. So I usually help them with the financial side.”

What was going on? His father was…

“Children?”

"Two. They love Matteo.”

"Wife?”

"Technically, yes.”

W-what?

"Alright." Leonel finally said.

"Everything okay? What was okay? Are you guys speaking in a language I don't understand? What's okay here?”

"Matteo, I think Leonel is deciding your future… again." Bianca said beside him.

"Derek Moore!" He said through gritted teeth.

Derek just smiled at Matteo and raised his hands, as if in surrender.

"Come on, don't be like that. You told me about yourself and introduced me to your family, the least I can do is tell you about mine.”

"Are you serious?”

"I am. It's no big deal. It's nice to know who's taking care of my kids. That way everyone knows what we're dealing with.”

Derek stood up, took a card out of his pocket and placed it on the table.

"In case you want to talk to me.”

This was shaping up to be one of the most awkward and embarrassing moments of Matteo's life. But at least it seemed to lighten the mood. Leonel relaxed back into his chair just in time for Maria to enter the room and everyone to start eating. It was like none of it had happened as the platters of food were passed around the table and more arrived from the kitchen.