Page 13 of Cross the Line

“I was watching you dance.”

“Riley’s straight,” Alec says, hating the bitter tinge of jealousy he feels. Riley might be younger than Alec, but with his stubbled jaw and impressive physique, he doesn’t look it. Alec’s been cursed with a damn baby face and an inability to grow facial hair. Last week someone asked him if he was old enough to have his driver’s license and Alec had nearly screamed.

“I wasn’t—never mind,” Theo mumbles. He sighs heavily, scrubbing a hand over his face. The smile that was on his face just a moment ago is gone, replaced with something heavy. It makes Alec want to do anything to put it back. Theo deserves to smile more.

“Will you dance with me?”

“How drunk are you?” Alec asks, positive sober Theo would never dance, especially not with Alec. It’s not that he doesn’t want to dance with him. He wants to, so much. He just doesn’t want to be the thing Theo regrets the next day.

“Drunk enough,” Theo laughs, and god, the sound is like fucking music to his ears. Theo’s laughter is a beautiful thing, deep and rumbly and not given freely. “But I do want to dance. With you. Will you dance with me, Alexander?”

Alexander.

No one calls him that. No one. It’s what Theo used to call him. Before. But then things changed and he stopped calling him Alexander. Stopped calling him anything. Soon Theo said Alec like everyone else, and Alec hasn’t let anyone call him Alexander since.

Drunk Theo apparently doesn’t remember any of that, though. It is such a monumentally cruel joke from the universe to give Alec exactly what he wants for his birthday, without any of it being real.

Saying yes would be one of the stupidest things Alec has ever done, which is saying something. He knows Theo is asking Alec to dance because he’s the only person at this party that he knows besides Jason, who is too drunk to dance. And the twins, neither of whom dance. He’s not asking for any of the reasons Alec wishes. He’s drunk and trying to have fun, but Alec should still say no before he gets in too deep.

“Alexander,” Theo whispers, and Alec is a fucking goner. He would do anything for this man, including break his own heart.

He falls into Theo’s space, molding himself to Theo’s side. “Alright then, big guy, show me what you’ve got.”

Whatever he expects to happen, it’s not Theo draping himself around Alec before he sways his hips from side to side. While he lacks the coordination and confidence Riley showed on the dance floor, he makes up for it by the fact that he’s exactly who Alec has always wanted to dance with. This is Alec’s teenage fantasy come true and it takes everything in him not to close his eyes. Instead, he keeps them open, trying to memorize every moment.

Their hips sway and though Theo can’t quite match the tempo, it’s clear he’s trying. It takes a few minutes before Theo’s hands settle along his side, the touch light, almost as if he isn’t sure if he’s allowed. Alec covers Theo’s hands with his own, giving them a squeeze before inching them lower until Theo’s hands settle low on Alec’s hips. He continues to sway his hips when he stumbles, falling against Alec’s back and tightening his grip.

“Sorry,” he huffs.

“You’re fine.” The touch is searing and Alec has to close his eyes to conceal his expression. This is everything he’s ever wanted and it hurts more than it has any right to.

“This is fun,” Theo says and Alec forces his eyes open.

It’s worth it to see the way Theo’s face relaxes, the lightest sheen of sweat clinging to his brow as he towers over Alec. He’s a horrible fucking dancer, and Alec’s heart is in his throat at how much he still loves him after all these years. It’s always like this. Whether he goes weeks or months without seeing Theo, trying to get over him, the second he’s around him he’s reminded that it’s always been Theo.

“Are you having fun?” Theo asks, shaking the hair from his eyes. “At your birthday, I mean. It’s your party because you're the birthday boy.”

He’s so stupidly drunk it’s adorable.

“I am.” Alec grins.

Theo loosens his hold but doesn’t move his hands.

“This okay?” Theo whispers, breath warm where it ghosts across Alec’s cheek. His breath is sweet from the punch, but tinged with the scent of cheap beer, serving as a harsh reminder that Theo wouldn’t be holding him if he were sober.

“Yeah, Theo. It’s okay.”

Across the dance floor, Alec catches sight of Riley watching them and averts his gaze, knowing he isn’t doing a good job of hiding his own feelings right now. He’s only lucky Theo is behind him, and drunk, so he has no idea. He makes up his mind here and now to do anything necessary to ensure Theo never finds out he’s still in love with him again.

CHAPTER 4

Theo

Theo’s head pounds, throbbing so hard it feels like it might split into two. There’s also something plastic digging into his back. He groans as he rolls sideways, only to fall onto the cold, hard ground.

With a grunt he opens his eyes, trying to figure out how he fell off his king-sized bed, only to discover that the rug beneath him is an ugly mismatched design that’s always reminded Theo of movie theater carpet. Definitely not in his own house, then. Getting both eyes open is difficult, the sunlight streaming through the massive living room windows enough to have Theo groaning and trying to hide his face. Everything is too bright and Theo’s stomach is churning like he’s stuck on an upside-down roller coaster.

“Someone save me,” Jason moans. Theo’s not sure where Jason is, but judging by the sound of his voice, he’d guess on the floor under the dining room table. “I think I might be dying.”

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