Page 32 of Cross the Line

“Good, it’s settled. You’ll foster her on a trial basis.” Alec continues to talk, launching into a long list of things they’re going to need from the pet store, along with talk of vet visits and vaccinations. Things that are tangible and real. Theo tries to listen but his focus is splintered, his attention drawn back and forth from the kitten to Alec.

“When did you become so smart?”

“I have always been smart,” Alec retorts. “Some people just never bothered to notice. I bet there’s a lot about me you never noticed, Theodore.”

Anxiety flutters in Theo’s chest, the words easy but the implications anything but. Theo breathes in for five seconds and out for seven, focusing on the silky fur beneath his palm and the cadence of Alec’s voice as he launches into a random story about someone on his team. The words hold little meaning, but Theo breathes in and out, focusing on the sound of Alec’s voice as one thing becomes crystal clear: however temporary, Theo’s life is about to change.

CHAPTER 7

Alec

“So we need to go to the pet store. Soon. Very soon.”

Ever since they finished breakfast, Alec’s been waiting for Theo to point out that he is still here, technically uninvited. Well, Theo is far too polite for his own good so he would never do that, but Alec knows how to read between the lines of what people do and don’t say. Once he’s overstayed his welcome it’ll be obvious, even if Theo doesn’t come out and say it.

The only way to avoid that from happening is to keep them occupied. It’s also true that they do in fact need to go to the store. He just neglects to point out that if Theo preferred, Alec could easily make him a list of things to buy and he could do it alone. Well, what he really wants is for Theo to want him to help, but since that is unlikely, he settles for making himself needed.

“Do we?” Theo replies, his tone impossible to read.

“Obviously.” Alec waves his hand in the air, stray Oreo crumbs falling onto his bare stomach. He brushes them onto the floor before lifting the package up and holding it out towards Theo. “Want one?”

“Those are technically mine, you know.”

“Which is exactly why I’m offering.” Alec grins. “I’m a very polite boy. Do you want one before I finish the pack off?”

“I thought you were on a strict meal plan from your nutritionist and?—”

“Zip it,” Alec interrupts.

Theo snaps his mouth shut and Alec tries not to think too hard about why he likes knowing Theo will listen to him when he’s bossy. His brothers never listen, the fuckers.

“Do you really hate it?” Theo asks a moment later.

“Hate what?” Alec asks, popping the second half of his Oreo into his mouth. He’s pretty sure he knows what Theo means, but he hopes he’s wrong.

“The meal plan? Jason said it’s stressful.”

“Jason has a big fucking mouth,” Alec grumbles.

“He worries about you. You’re his baby brother.”

The words are probably meant to be comforting, but they’re like sandpaper against Alec’s heart, a harsh reminder of what he will always be to Theo.

“I can take care of myself just fine, thank you.”

“He loves you. You know he’d do anything for you.”

“Ugh, don’t make me think sappy thoughts about Jason,” Alec groans dramatically, dropping his head back on the couch. He really does love his brother, a stupid amount, but he’s also a pain in the ass.

“Jason is the best.”

A prickle of the same jealousy Alec used to feel when he was fifteen teases at the edge of his mind, and Alec hates that all it takes is a few hours with Theo to turn him back into a pathetic version of himself. He doesn’t want to be jealous of Jason.

“We’ve established you have a giant fucking crush on Jason. Can we move on to the shopping list.”

Theo’s thick eyebrows knit together. “I don’t have a crush on Jason.”

“Uh-huh,” Alec says while shoving an Oreo in his mouth to hide the fact that his face is trying to form a smile without his permission. He has to remind himself that just because Theo doesn’t have a crush on Jason now doesn’t mean he never did, or that they never fooled around. Some people have sex without feelings. If Jason is telling the truth, and he always is, Theo certainly does. Which is fine. Alec’s not gonna judge someone. It just makes him jealous as fuck because he doesn’t want a one night stand or a meaningless fuck, he wants romance. A fact he intends to take to his grave, possibly with his virginity if he continues to be picky and turn guys down left and right.

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