Impress Me Not: Neon Underground

Chapter 54

He should have known that this beach house was too good to be true. It was the lowest price he could find for such a great quality. All the other ones this price were fixer-uppers. He thought he had looked enough at the property to decide that it was perfect for him to spend some time in before he sorted his life out and got another place to live. But there just happened to be one thing that he seemed to have missed.

The fucking roof.

"Get all the electronics," Melvin told him, going for the first bucket he could find. "You never know just how bad these leaks can get."

"I'm not going to be able to get the TV," Mateo said. "It's mounted to the damn wall!"

"I'll get you a new one," he told him. "Just focus on what you can, and try to find another bucket for me."

The leak had started in the kitchen, which was the worst place for it to start. Melvin had a bucket under one as he started going through and unplugging things. He was smart about things like that. Mateo was glad that he was there, because he sure as hell wouldn't have known what to do if he was here by himself.

Sure, he was a grown adult. He knew how to handle certain things. He knew how to handle the insurance adjuster when this was all over, that was for sure. But he didn't think of unplugging everything when a bad leak was happening. He also never experienced a leak that was basically pouring water into the place.

And, as soon as he got another bucket, he found another leak in the living room.

"Fucking great!" he yelled, going towards it. He really was going to lose this television. He didn't know if Melvin meant it or not when he said he would buy him a new one, but it didn't matter. The insurance adjuster better cover all this mess.

"I know you've already been here a while," Melvin laughed while he dumped his bucket into the sink. "But I think this is your official Welcome to Florida!"

"Jee, thanks!" He frowned. "Are you really going to make jokes when all of this is happening?!"

"Nothing better to do," he told him.

Mateo couldn't really be mad at him. He was doing the brunt of the work right then with the worst leak in the house. His black hair had even gotten wet. It clung to his face no matter how fast he moved. The man looked good wet with only pants on. Water even dripped down his back in the most enticing way possible.

And it was completely distracting.

"Shit," he muttered to himself, opening the window closest to him to dump the bucket out. It was the fastest way considering the situation right then. "This is the worst roof leak I've ever seen!"

"Do you have a tarp?" Melvin yelled over the storm.

"What am I, a construction worker?" Mateo asked. "Why the hell would I have a tarp?"

"It has many uses," he answered, dumping his bucket in the sink again. He coughed a little before continuing. "This is a lost cause. We gotta get out of here."

"Is this normal at all?" Mateo asked, immediately giving up to get some necessities. He through some clothes into a bag carelessly, not even paying attention to what they were. The most important thing there was his laptop, and he made sure not to forget that, his phone, wallet, or keys.

"Not unless it's a hurricane," Melvin answered, walking into the bedroom to get his things as well. "One hasn't hit Amor in ten years though."

"Do you think that's what this is?" Mateo froze in place, feeling the warmth drain from his face. He was lucky enough that he had never lived through any natural disasters, and he really didn't want today to be a first. It was supposed to be a calm day, one where he could finally just enjoy seeing the real Melvin, without any of the acts he enjoyed to play so much.