Teo went into the kitchen and turned on the light above the stove. He set the note down, only seeing the For Mateo, with love, Josiah, before he went to grab a glass of juice out of the fridge. He had just pulled the door open when the kitchen light came on.
“Couldn’t sleep?” William’s voice sounded from behind him, holding a harsh edge to it.
“No.” Mateo’s eyes shot to the letter. His pulse went crazy when William walked toward it, to the cabinet that held the glasses.
Don’t let him see it. Please don’t let him fucking see it.
William opened the cabinet. Paused. Then tossed something to the counter right by the letter.
Game fucking over.
“I’m having a hard time sleeping, too, with Molly being sick. I went out to my shed tonight. I never go out there, but I was...hell, I don’t know. I guess I was thinking I could find something to keep me busy out there. Found this.”
Mateo didn’t speak. What the fuck could he say with five ounces of weed sitting on the counter?
William didn’t say anything, either, but then his eyes looked down at the counter, at the letter. Body stiff, he looked over his shoulder. “What are you doing with that kid?”
Teo shook his head. “Nothin’. Don’t know what you’re talkin’ about. Don’t worry about the drugs. I’ll go.”
William seemed to have forgotten about those. “What is this?” He grabbed the paper. “I knew it. I could tell something wasn’t right. I told Molly.”
Panic seized him. He didn’t know what to do, and the truth came tumbling out in a moment of weakness. Weak, just like his father said he was. “I’d never hurt him. I love him.”
William’s features hardened even more. “He’s young. Insecure. Oh my God, what have you been doing to him? In our house? After everything we’ve done for you, you’re not only hiding drugs at my house but you’re messing with that kid?”
Teo took a step toward him. “It’s not like that. We haven’t done nothin’.”
“Then what is this?” William threw the letter at him. Mateo grabbed it. “That kid just wants to be loved. He’d grab onto anyone who showed him that. You might not realize it, you might not want to, but you’re going to hurt him. He flinches at his own damn shadow.” William shook his head. “It’s not right. I can’t have it. Not that in my house. Not that or the drugs.”
Anger shoved its way to the surface. He didn’t care if William thought he was a druggie, but he did care what he thought of Josiah. “He’s stronger than you think. Don’t push that weak bullshit off on him. Blame me all you want, but don’t call him weak in front of me again.”
William sighed. “I can’t deal with this. My wife is sick. I won’t deal with drugs in my house. I can’t deal with the two of you guys, too.”
Those last words slammed into Mateo. You guys, too... “Don’t. Don’t fucking take this out on Josiah. It’s not his fault.” He couldn’t get Jay kicked out of here. He loved it here. Loved Molly and William. He’d never forgive himself if he got Josiah sent to another home.
“You need to watch your language when you talk to me.”
“Fuck my language! I care about him! Don’t hurt him because of me.”
His face hardened, his fist coming down on the counter. “Don’t raise your voice! You’re going to wake Molly. This will kill her. We have too much going on to deal with this. You’re out of here. Tomorrow. I don’t want to see you around Molly.”
Mateo knew he couldn’t wait until tomorrow. If he did, he’d have to say goodbye to Josiah. If he did, Josiah would try to go with him. “You’ll be good to him? He didn’t know about this shit, and the other thing was my fault, too. I’m the one who pushed him into it.”
William shook his head, whispering that he knew it. “Then just go. This is already going to kill Molly. I don’t want her to lose Josiah, too.”
Mateo’s gut clenched because he was going to lose Josiah. Dios, he was really going to lose Josiah. Because he couldn’t stay here. If William found out Mateo was around, he could screw up Josiah having a home.
“I’ll be outta here. You won’t have to see me again.”
He didn’t even go to his room to grab any of his shit. He had his letter and that’s all the really mattered. Mateo shoved his feet into the shoes that were by the door.
“Te amo,” he whispered one last time. Mateo grabbed the doorknob, slowly pulling it open.
