4. Diego #4
When Frankie had first moved in, Diego’s biggest worry had been that he would do or say something to clue Frankie in on his feelings, and Frankie would run screaming, or at the very least no longer be comfortable around him.
His second biggest concern, one that began to itch under his skin and gnaw at the back of his mind as time continued to pass, was that Frankie would go on being oblivious.
Maybe he would bring home some unsuspecting hookup and Diego would react poorly – like crying on the bathroom floor.
Strangely this never happened. The hookups, not the crying.
Well, actually both. For a while, Frankie seemed to be working, occasionally seeing friends, and then coming home to hang out with Diego, or to go directly to bed if he got home late at night.
One night at the end of November, Frankie texted that he wouldn’t be coming home.
Diego didn’t cry or overreact. Instead, he reacted like a rational adult and worked until he passed out on the couch.
The next morning he woke up with a neck and back ache bad enough to drive him to tears, but he refused to give in.
The second, third and fourth time it happened, Diego went out with some of his other friends to try and distract himself, and they tried to console him that at least Frankie was respectful enough not to bring his hookups home.
The fifth time it happened, he FaceTimed with his cousin, who told him he should either tell Frankie how he felt or consider going out and finding someone to spend his own nights with.
The sixth time it happened he called Obie and asked if he could see him and Seth. Obie apologized profusely but said they had a guest staying with them and wouldn’t be able to host him, so Diego fell asleep curled up on the couch again with nothing but the drone of the TV to keep him company.
When Frankie returned from these nights away, things felt a little off, and Diego couldn’t tell if he was the one being weird or if Frankie was.
At first, Diego was pretty sure it was him acting strange, tiptoeing around Frankie and trying not to do anything that would drive him away again.
However, from the third night on, Diego could say with confidence Frankie was the one being weird.
At first, Frankie was sort of skittish around Diego, avoiding touching him in any way, even just a casual brush of the hand when they both reached for the remote would have him shrinking back into the couch cushions.
Then, he seemed to do a hard pivot and became almost clingy, demanding Diego spend time with him and cuddle on the couch together before bed.
It almost felt like Frankie was pulling him close only so he could push him away harder the next time he didn’t come home.
When this happened the sixth time, Diego kept trying to remind himself simply to enjoy Frankie’s increased interest in him before it waned again, but he was beginning to feel his nerves fray and his patience wane.
He was doing laundry, daydreaming about hopefully spending more time with Frankie that week, when he got a text from Emilio.
As it turned out, he was going to be passing through town over the weekend and wanted to stop by and see the cafe.
Diego quickly responded that it wasn’t ready to be seen yet.
As he dug yet another pair of Frankie’s boxers out of his clean laundry basket, Diego wondered if maybe Emilio would want to see the apartment instead.
All of Diego’s interactions with Emilio had always been clear and to the point.
They both liked sex, they both liked sex with each other, and so they enjoyed each other’s bodies and each other’s company one night at a time and then went on with their lives.
Unlike the mess of indecision and confusion that had become his relationship with Frankie, he found himself missing that level of candid, carnal pleasure seeking.
Diego wasn’t going to sleep with Emilio though.
Not with Frankie one wall away. But, he could have him over, flirt a little, feel good about himself, and enjoy the fact that someone wanted him.
Hell, Frankie might not even be home since he seemed to be going out on weekends more and more now.
Diego chucked Frankie’s boxers into his bedroom, pulled his phone back out, and invited Emilio over.
Of course Frankie chose that Saturday evening to decide he wanted to “spend some time with his best friend” aka Diego.
“I actually have a friend stopping by tonight. I’m not sure how long he’s going to be here, but I think you’ll like him,” he said casually.
Diego had no idea if Frankie was going to like Emilio, but after the stressful past few weeks, he just didn’t care anymore.
“Are you sure? I can make myself scarce if you need me to,” Frankie offered in a flat tone.
Did Diego want that? He could tell Frankie to go back to wherever he’d been two nights ago and he could have amazing sex with Emilio, where his body would feel valid and worshiped and – his phone buzzed in his pocket, interrupting his lust filled spiral.
He glanced one last time at Frankie’s stiff posture and tense shoulders and finalized his conviction. “No, it’s alright. You’re very welcome to stay and hang out.”
Diego ran down the stairs and out to the front of the shop, unlocking the deadbolt and raising the privacy shield.
For some reason, Frankie trailed after him.
Diego immediately wished he hadn’t when Emilio enveloped him in a hug and kissed him on both cheeks and then the lips.
This was always how they used to greet each other, but it suddenly felt grossly intimate in front of Frankie.
“ ?Quibo Diego! ?Que tal? ?Tanto tiempo sin verte! ” Emilio exclaimed pulling Diego in for another hug. Like Emilio said, it really had been a long time since they’d seen each other, and Diego allowed himself to melt into the hug for a moment.
Emilio’s hand drifted down Diego’s back towards his ass until a sharp throat clearing pulled them apart. Frankie was glancing between them in shock and before his surprise could turn to hostility, Emilio grabbed Diego’s chin and turned his face back to look at him.
He searched Diego’s eyes for a moment before murmuring, “Diego… ? Es tu novio ?”
Diego took a step back and shook his head. Emilio’s hand immediately went to his lower back, holding him close, but at least not openly fondling him anymore. “No… no es mi novio. Este es—”
“Frankie. Diego’s best friend, business partner – and roommate,” Frankie said coldly, stepping forward and offering a hand to Emilio. Diego was momentarily shocked that Frankie knew the word for boyfriend when Diego had clearly never taught it to him. For obvious reasons.
“ ?Son companeros de cuarto?” Emilio said in a teasing voice, raising an eyebrow suggestively as he accepted Frankie’s hand.
Diego nearly face palmed. “Did you just suggestively ask if we were roommates?”
Frankie’s eyes darkened and his hand fell back to his side. Emilio let out a loud chuckle seemingly unable to read the room, or perhaps just choosing to ignore the tension. “ Sí, bello. Eso es lo que dije. ”
Diego’s back immediately stiffened at the endearment, one he had definitely never used on Frankie.
Emilio, possibly misinterpreting his reaction, ran his hand up and down Diego’s spine.
Frankie caught the movement and his hands balled into fists.
Diego had no idea how to respond; Emilio’s warm touch was admittedly pretty distracting.
As the silence stretched between them, Emilio snaked his hand around Diego’s waist and cupped his hip, a move that used to make Diego swoon inside.
Under the watchful eye of his roommate though, it made him feel naked and exposed.
That is, until Frankie crossed his arms defensively over his chest and glared at Diego. Oh, for fuck’s sake.
“How about we all go upstairs. Em, we have beer and wine, maybe some snacks.”
“I think I’ll let you two… enjoy your night. I’m just going to grab my stuff,” Frankie said, jerking his chin over his shoulder. He backed away from them and watched like they were rabid animals about to attack.
Diego wanted to stop him but didn’t know what to say, so he just watched Frankie disappear into the backroom.
His shoulders sagged and he leaned back into Emilio’s comforting touch.
Emilio stepped forward, slotting his semi-soft body behind Diego’s.
Emilio had been a little smaller in college, but Diego had always loved the fullness of his body, and how he was able to make Diego feel simultaneously like a man in charge, but also a little small and protected.
He’d filled out even more since he’d gone back to Peru with both muscle and a soft layer of padding Diego wanted to sink into.
Emilio ran his lips up Diego’s neck, pausing right by his ear. “ Lo siento mucho, Diego. No quise—”
“Hey, Em… I’m sorry.” Diego took a small step forward and turned around.
He lifted his arms up to wrap around Emilio’s neck like he used to do when saying goodbye for the night.
Was he saying goodbye? He didn’t want to, but he also didn’t want to say goodbye to Frankie the way they just had, even if he was being a bit of a brat about the whole thing.
“Could we switch to English?” Diego asked.
“It’s kind of hard for me to translate quickly when I’m a bit…
er… flustered.” Emilio threaded his arms behind Diego’s lower back and pulled their bodies flush together.
With anyone else, anyone except Emilio, Collin, or Frankie, he would have cringed as his packer pressed against Emilio’s thigh.
But Emilio had not only seen it, he’d also put it in his mouth, taken it in hand and…
... best not to finish that train of thought right now.
“Do you not think in Spanish?” Emilio asked. His English came out more accented than it had been the last time Diego had seen him.