Chapter 32

Javier was at the shop early, working on designs when Jordan came in.

"You look different," Jordan said, studying him. "More focused or something."

"Just in a good mood." But Javier couldn't help smiling while he drew, thinking about last night.

His phone lit up with a text from Messiah:

"Practice got moved up"

"You eat first?"

"Yeah. Come over later?"

"Always"

Throughout the day Javier caught himself getting distracted, mind drifting to how Messiah felt in his arms, how he trusted him enough to be that vulnerable. His client noticed him smiling.

"You good?"

"Yeah, just thinking."

---

Meanwhile Messiah was at soccer practice trying to focus, but his body was still sore in ways that kept reminding him of Javier. Coach pulled him aside after.

"Your head in the game today?"

"Yeah I'm good. Just tired."

In class later he was sitting in the back like usual, actually taking notes for once instead of sleeping. His phone buzzed - Dom in the group chat clowning him about not coming to the kickback this weekend.

"Nah you just wanna be with your man 😂"

"Mind your business"

At work Messiah's coworker asked why he was walking funny. He just shot her a look that shut her up quick.

His cat greeted him when he got home, meowing for dinner like always. While he fed him, Messiah caught himself touching the marks Javier left on his neck, smiling despite himself.

---

Back at his place, Javier was working on a new design just for Messiah. Something that would look perfect on his skin. His sister FaceTimed but he let it go to voicemail, too caught up in his drawing.

His mama called right after though. "Mijo where you been? You coming to dinner Sunday?"

"Yeah mama. Can I bring someone?"

There was a pause. "Messiah?"

"Yeah." Javier smiled at how excited she sounded.

"Finally! I been waiting to meet him."

"Don't do too much mama. He gets nervous about family stuff."

After they hung up, Javier went back to his drawing, thinking about how to ask Messiah about dinner. He knew his boy still had walls up about family, but something about last night made him feel like maybe those walls was coming down bit by bit.

---

Late that night, Messiah was in bed with his bonnet on when Javier FaceTimed.

"You coming over?" Messiah asked, adjusting his phone.

"In a bit. Just finishing this piece." Javier was at his desk drawing. "You look tired baby."

"Practice was rough."

"You still sore?"

"Shut up." But Messiah was smiling. "You just gonna keep asking about that?"

"Maybe." Javier's voice got low. "I like knowing I did that to you."

Usually that kind of talk would have Messiah rolling his eyes. But now it just made him feel... wanted. Protected. His cat jumped up next to him like he knew what he was thinking.

"Your cat miss me?"

"Nah just me."

"You admitting you miss me chiquito?"

Instead of answering, Messiah just said "Hurry up and come over" before hanging up.

Twenty minutes later when Javier showed up, Messiah was already half asleep. But he still reached for him, letting Javier pull him close like they'd been doing this forever.

"I got you baby," Javier said soft, and Messiah actually believed him.