Page 47 of Cross the Line

“Ever?” Alec asks.

“Nah, too much work. My parents put me off it.”

“Aren’t your parents still married?” Antonio asks.

“Exactly,” Riley groans. “All that bitching and moaning and they’re never happy. Don’t get me wrong, they're wonderful parents, mostly. But they’re fucking miserable together, and wouldn’t get divorced for the kids. Like we all wanna hear all that fighting. It just sounds like too much work. Sorry, that's depressing, you’re getting married soon. Marriage is, uh, fantastic.”

Antonio shrugs, unbothered.

“I wanna get married,” Alec admits. “One day. Not like right now, but in a few years. It seems nice to share that with someone.”

“Of course you do, you big romantic.” Antonio ruffles his hair. “I bet you’ll sob like a baby walking down the aisle.”

“Maybe my husband will sob when he looks at me being all sexy and shit.”

Riley laughs. “Cocky fucker.”

Alec grins, rolling onto his back to look up at Riley. “I have a mirror. I know what I look like.”

“How the fuck does your ego fit in this room?” Antonio says.

Alec’s smile fades. “I think I fucked up.”

“When you say fucked up, do you mean like need a lawyer fucked up, or in trouble with coach fucked up, or?—”

“I spent all day with Theo fucked up,” Alec says, staring at a stain on the ceiling. A familiar weight settles on his stomach as Antonio uses him like a pillow while Riley’s big hand rests at his head. Neither of them are as tactile as Alec, but they know him well, maybe even better than he ever realized, and offer the kind of comfort he isn’t brave enough to ask for right now. “I don’t wanna be in love anymore.”

“So are you gonna stop seeing him?” Riley asks.

There’s a tightness in his chest. He knows what he should do, and yet he can’t. “No.”

“Fuck.” Antonio whistles.

“Fuck,” Riley echoes.

“Big fuck,” Alec agrees. He counts the beats of his own heart, glad Theo has no idea each of them beat for him. “Maybe I can get some distance. I won’t stop seeing him, but I’ll be cool and aloof. I’ll make him come to me.”

“Now we’re talking,” Riley says. “Make him beg.”

“That’s not?—”

“Make him see how great you are,” Antonio agrees. “Not that we’re gonna share you. You’ve already got two best friends.”

“I think that’s the first time you’ve admitted we’re all besties.” Alec grins. “I feel like I should make us friendship bracelets.”

“No, you’re fucking not.” Antonio laughs.

“Bradley makes friendship bracelets. He handed them out on pledge night. Had everyone’s names and shit, too.”

“Is Bradley the guy who always wears those pink polo shirts and the shell necklace?”

“That’s him. Strange dude, but cool. Dudes can totally wear friendship bracelets.”

“Now I kind of want one,” Antonio admits, holding his arm up and twisting his wrist. “But I want red. Do they make lion beads? I want a lion bead.”

“I want hot pink,” Riley says. “Oh, and maybe some flowers. My little sisters would love that.”

“Bossy besties.” Alec snorts, fully determined to give them exactly what they want. “I want blue.”

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