Impress Me Not: Neon Underground

Chapter 71

Why did test results have to take so long to come back? The doctor said that it would only take three days, and Mateo was already losing his mind on day too. He never had to deal with something like this. It felt like the days were taking forever, stretched out by worry as he constantly watched the man he loved get weaker.

He didn't like this. Mateo didn't want to lose him when he just got him. It was nice being able to spend some alone time with him, but it would be better if he wasn't feeling awful. Maybe then he would be able to fully enjoy it.

Melvin wound up talking to Mateo a lot about his past, though. That was one plus side of this whole thing. Mateo was surprised to know that he had been disowned by his father just because of something that him and his girlfriend both agreed on.

Look, it would have freaked him out as a parent as well. But if taking him to therapy helped him like Melvin said that it did, then he wouldn't have disowned him. The idea that they just wouldn't accept him for who he was just reminded Mateo of his own family. They always tried to put him in a box, making him think that doing anything other than making money was just ridiculous and not normal. That was for the poor.

Mateo would rather be completely broke than be rich without Mel.

A knock on the door got his attention. He had been cleaning the kitchen up when he heard it. Melvin was sleeping, like he did most of the day. Mateo was just happy when his breathing was somewhat normal. His cousin Vlad had gotten him an expensive machine that purifies the air in his bedroom for the meantime. The damn thing was as big as a mini fridge. But damn, was Mateo surprised by how good the air was in that room after that was plugged in.

Mateo opened the door immediately, not worried in the slightest as to who it was. People had been trying to call Melvin since the night he was in the hospital. Mateo knew that he wasn't going to be able to talk much, so he would answer it for him and talk to anyone who needed. Anton was already helping to run the club, mainly doing the paperwork and payroll for it. Mateo knew the man could do it. If not him, then Lucas could definitely help. Although he wasn't sure if Melvin would want anyone other than Anton helping with that stuff, considering all the personal information that payroll programs had.

"Mateo, right?" A woman walked in, followed immediately by a blond behind her. Both of them had colorful makeup on and bright clothes, and giant heels. It looked like they had just gotten back from the club.

Wait a minute...

Were they women?

"Yeah," Mateo did a double take. "Have I met you two before."

"Aww! You don't remember us?" The girl put a hand to her chest. "Well, to be fair, you were pretty drunk that night."

"Oh, shut up, Devine," the blond rolled her eyes. "You were too busy trying to get laid that night. I was the one who brought him here."

"Wait," Mateo was slowly starting to get his memory back. "You were both at that bar, right?" He vaguely remembered them up on stage, then they came over to talk to Melvin when him and Mateo were drinking and messing with each other.

Back when they still hated each other...

Man. That felt like ages ago.

"Yes, honey," the blond told him. "I'm so glad you took his heart. I was trying to get him to talk about you forever, but that man absolutely hates talking about his feelings. I'm sure you already know this."

"Or he just thinks you're a gossip, who's going to tell the whole city," Devine scoffed at her friend. Then she moved her hair back with a flick of her wrist and smiled at Mateo again. "Anyway, we heard that Mel wasn't doing good, so we wanted to come and visit him."