Page 110 of Cross the Line

Spotting the twins is easy, both of them huddled in the corner. Andrew’s dressed down in a pair of sweats and a wrinkled t-shirt, which makes him look so much more like Charlie it’s unnerving. He didn’t even know Andrew owned anything besides perfectly starched polos and dress slacks. Beside him sits Charlie, head in his hands and fingers clenched in his hair. At their approach Andrew looks up, whispering something to Charlie before standing and walking towards them. He’s clearly putting some distance between them and Charlie, and Theo doesn’t know what to make of that.

“Theo,” Andrew greets before being pulled into a fierce hug by Jason.

“Please say he’s okay,” Jason chokes.

“We don’t know,” Andrew says, voice tight when he steps out of the embrace. Something about seeing Andrew, the calmest King, looking so disheveled and rattled really hammers home how serious this is. “They think it was a drunk driver. It was a hit and run. Someone driving to work found him bleeding on the curb and called 911. Mom and dad are in a complete panic trying to get flights home, but everything is booked and—” Andrew stops, swallowing audibly.

“And what, Andrew?”

“He’s in surgery right now. His leg is pretty fucked up, Jason.”

“How fucked are we talking?”

“Really fucked.” Andrew pulls on his hair, looking so much younger than he normally does. “They said something about a compound fracture. They’re going to be putting pins in it to stabilize the bone, and he’ll need physical therapy after and…they don’t know if he’s gonna be able to play soccer again. Even if he does play, he’s not going to be able to do it this year. He’s going to miss the MLS combine in January, which means his chance at being scouted is gone.”

“Fuck.” Jason looks two seconds from collapsing, which is exactly how Theo feels. This is all his fault. If he hadn’t let Alec leave, none of this would have happened.

“It’s not just his leg, either. He’s got a few sprained ribs and his shoulder was dislocated. I just wish I knew why the hell he was out alone. Charlie said he called him crying right before he got hurt, that he was really upset about something, but wouldn’t say what.”

Theo didn’t think he could feel worse, but bile rises in his throat. The guilt is staggering and Theo backs himself into a wall, damn near hyperventilating.

“Theo, it’s not your fault.”

“It is my fault,” Theo whispers, unable to stomach Jason comforting him right now.

“Why would it be Theo’s fault? Weren’t you at home?” Andrew is glancing between Jason and Theo, clearly trying to fill in the puzzle pieces.

“It’s nothing,” Jason lies and Theo knows exactly what that must cost him. Jason hates lying as much as Alec. Those damn King boys and their honesty. The fact that Jason would lie to his brother just to protect Theo, is more than Theo deserves.

“Alec was at my house,” Theo answers, a sob catching in his throat when Jason leans his shoulder against Theo’s. He’s still angry, Theo knows he is, but he’s not walking away and Theo can’t believe he ever thought he would. Jason is the most loyal guy that Theo’s ever met, and he can’t believe he doubted him. Fear makes people, makes Theo, do really shitty things. He’s not sure he deserves Jason’s loyalty, but he’s damn sure going to cling to it.

“I’m definitely missing some context here,” Andrew says, “I thought?—”

“You.” Charlie’s voice booms out through the almost empty waiting room, his eyes like daggers glaring at Theo. Apparently he heard them, then. Not like it matters. Andrew would’ve told him the second he sat down anyway.

“Fuck,” Jason says under his breath.

Charlie rises from his chair to cross the room. “I should have known it was you. It’s always you when Alec’s getting his heart broken.”

Andrew’s eyes widen, but he wisely keeps his mouth shut.

“That’s really not fair,” Jason says. Theo lets the pressure of Jason’s presence at his side keep his tears at bay. He owes Alec’s family that much.

“Fuck fair,” Charlie hisses. “This is your fault, Theo. I should have known when Alec called me crying.”

Theo swallows. “He was crying?”

“Of course he was crying. He was devastated about something he wouldn’t tell me.” Charlie’s tone drips with accusation. “I wondered when he mentioned love, but then I thought no. No way. Theo would never cross the line like that. He doesn’t have feelings for Alec. He wouldn’t lead him on.”

“Easy, Charlie,” Andrew interjects, trying to keep the peace as always. “We don’t know anything for sure.”

“I would never hurt him on purpose,” Theo says, voice as small as he feels.

“Yet you did.” Charlie moves into Theo’s personal space. Theo is the same height as the twins, but right now Charlie seems to tower over him. “What did you do?”

Jason shakes his head. “Stop it, Charlie.”

“No!” Charlie shoves Jason when he tries to step between them. “This is Theo’s fault. Alec shouldn’t have been wandering the streets in the middle of the night. He could’ve died because of you. He might lose the game he loves forever, lose his entire future, all because of you!”

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