The two friends set their bags down on the bed before starting to unpack. Rick hesitated for a moment, wondering whether he should unpack at all, but since he wanted to keep his promise to spend the full eleven days here, he eventually decided it would be better not to keep everything in his bag.

While uncertainty about his visit still lingered within him, on the other hand, one floor below, a young man had just stepped inside, his nails painted black and his eyes lined with dark kohl.

Teo offered his brother only a brief greeting, letting him reunite with his father, and with the excuse that he needed to warm up, disappeared inside. In truth, however, he took Orion’s arrival in the garden as a sign that the man he was genuinely looking forward to seeing was already in the house.

He and Rick had spent a single night together three years ago, but despite all the time that had passed since then, Teo believed that something had changed that night. He had never before met someone who etched himself into his memory so deeply, and he believed it had to mean something. Now, he just needed to find out if the brown-haired man felt the same.

Knowing his brother could head back inside at any moment, he slipped unnoticed past the kitchen—where he could hear his mother—and headed for the stairs. Rick and Amelia, another of Orion’s colleagues, were staying in the guest room, which was closer to Teo’s room than Orion’s, and the dark haired young man chose to take that as a sign.

The first indication that the otherwise empty guest room was occupied were the voices coming from inside. Teo could make out enough words to know they were not talking about anything serious, only dividing up space since they had to share a wardrobe.

With silent steps, he reached the door, managing to get there undetected just as he had planned. He announced his presence with a light knock on the doorframe, as the door was wide open.

Rick turned first, and before Teo could even say hello, he watched as the older man's expression changed. There was no doubt that despite the drastic change in the younger man's appearance over the last few years, Rick recognized him instantly.

“What are you doing here?” The question itself made that obvious. He looked like a deer caught in headlights.

A wide smile spread across the dark haired man’s face, one he didn't even try to hide. Instead of answering Rick’s actual question, however, he turned toward the red-haired woman, who suddenly looked very confused.

“I just wanted to say hello,” he replied to Rick, then stopped in front of Amelia, holding out his hand. “Hi, I’m Teo, Orion’s brother.”

“Amelia. Nice to meet you.” She returned his smile, placing her hand in his, though her eyes were screaming for an explanation. After all, with a sideways glance, Teo could see that Rick stood frozen, as if he had seen a ghost, and it did not seem like he would find words anytime soon.

“I’ll leave you to your unpacking. If you need anything, my room is right next door.”

He had achieved what he wanted, and so he had no reason to linger any longer. Not when he knew his brother would be back soon, and he did not want to run into him. 

In the doorway, he turned one last time, giving Rick a look that made no effort to hide how much he was enjoying the chaos he had just caused, followed by a wink.

Rick didn't react to the flirtatious gesture. Instead, he didn't take his eyes off the retreating back clad in a red-and-black flannel shirt until the dark-haired man disappeared around the corner.

“What the hell just happened?” It was only Amelia’s question that snapped him out of his trance. Before he answered, however, he took three quick steps to the door and closed it. He did not need anyone in this house overhearing the conversation that was about to follow.

“You know Orion’s brother?” Amelia didn't wait for an answer to her first question before firing off the next.

“I didn't know he was Orion’s brother.”

If he had known, he would never have slept with him. And he definitely would not have told his friends about that night. He was in deep trouble.

“What do you mean?”

“It’s him,” he said at first, offering a terrible explanation, then walked over to the bed, where he sat down and buried his head in his hands. “It’s him.”

Amelia was sitting beside him within a second. “Him?”

“Mateo,” he said his full name, only now realizing that Orion had never referred to his brother as anything other than a nickname. “I told you about him. Three years ago.”

It took a few seconds before Amelia made a sound that clearly showed she remembered and was just as shocked as her colleague.

“You slept with Orion’s brother.” It was not a question but a statement, yet Rick nodded anyway, then lifted his head and turned his face toward her.

“I didn't know he was his brother,” he repeated his previous claim.

“How could you not know he was Orion’s brother?” Amelia asked, but a second later she frowned and waved her hand. “Forget it.”

Orion rarely talked about his brother. He had no photos with him on social media, and his brother had never come to visit him in Brassford. To both Rick and Amelia, he was practically a stranger, and the only things they knew about him were his name and the fact that the brothers didn't get along.

Or, at least, Rick thought he knew his name.

Three years ago, when they met, the younger man had introduced himself as Mateo. On top of that, he had looked different back then. Very different. He had been a little shorter, and his hair had been blond. It had been shorter and fuller, unlike the hairstyle he wore now, with short sides and strands that curled at the nape of his neck.

The only thing that had stayed the same were his eyes. Just like back then, they were framed with black eyeliner. It had stood out more against his appearance at the time because of the stronger contrast, but even now, with his hair raven black, his blue eyes still drew attention.

Rick would recognize those eyes anywhere.

“Do you think Orion knows?” Amelia asked another question, pulling him out of his thoughts. “I mean, Orion would have mentioned it if he knew his brother was gay.”

“He’s not gay,” Rick corrected her automatically.

That night, when they met, Rick had been struck by his carefree personality and his ability to laugh in any situation, as well as by his explanation — “I’m everything and anything” — when Rick had asked about his orientation. Back then, Rick had been so deep in the closet that meeting Mateo had felt like a breath of fresh air.

Amelia frowned in confusion but did not ask for clarification.

“What are you going to do?”

He knew what her question really meant: whether he planned to tell Orion anything, or whether he would stay quiet. After all, it did not seem like Mateo intended to pretend they did not know each other. At least he had not done so in front of Amelia, and what he might do in front of his family was a question Rick was afraid to have answered.

“I don’t know.”

He had been so afraid of this visit, and now, feeling pure desperation, he knew those fears hadn't been in vain. However, he hadn't expected to have a completely different reason to worry.

“Do you think Teo will say something to Orion?”

“I don’t know.” This time his tone was different, harsher, more irritated. “Sorry,” he added immediately when he realized he was unfairly taking his emotions out on his friend.

Amelia merely waved it off. “You have bigger problems.”

“Should I go talk to him?”

After all, Mateo himself had said that if they needed anything, they should come to him. Was that supposed to be a hidden message?

Before Rick could stand up to go get an answer, however, he heard footsteps on the stairs, and when he caught a glimpse of blond hair, he quickly stood up and tried to control his expression.

“Are you guys done? Mom made tea and set out some cookies. You can finish this later.”

Orion sounded upbeat, but then his gaze shifted to his friend, studying him with sharp eyes, as if he sensed something was wrong. Thankfully, he did not ask.

“We’re coming.”