Page 7 of Cross the Line

“Are you ready?” Alec asks, blissfully unaware of Theo’s racing thoughts.

Behind him the sky darkens, orange turning red. Something has changed.

“Ready,” Theo lies, anything but.

“Do you want another taco?”

Theo shakes his head, pushing his paper plate away from him before reaching for his Topo-Chico and taking a drink. The carbonation burns in the best way possible, soothing the edges of Theo’s nerves. He hates how he can be anxious like this even when he’s having a good time.

“I don’t think I can eat another bite,” Theo admits, unsure how Alec even finished his second round. Then again maybe bean tacos are less filling than carnitas.

“I feel like I could do another one,” Alec muses.

The plastic creaks as he leans back in his chair, slipping his hand under the hem of his cotton shirt. The sun has set now, the flickering light from the street lamp above them illuminating the many freckles that dot Alec’s high cheekbones. There’s an undeniable physicality to his body and the way he moves, but his features are delicate—sharp cheekbones, long lashes and full lips. Have his lips always been that full?

“How can you possibly fit any more food in there? You ate nine tacos and a side of chips and guacamole.”

“I’m still a growing boy,” Alec proclaims, patting his exposed belly. It’s supposed to be a joke but the way he rubs his palm over his stomach draws Theo’s eyes to the insanity of Alec’s body—his stomach flat and muscled with visible abs, and a soft trail of light brown hair leading from under his belly button and down beneath the waistband of his sweats.

Theo gulps the rest of his drink so fast it burns.

Staring at Alec it’s easy to forget himself and the reasons they’re really here. He’s supposed to be distracting Alec for the surprise party awaiting him. He’s not supposed to be indulging in wayward thoughts. Then again Jason did tell him to keep Alec occupied, there’s no reason they can’t enjoy the time until then.

“You know what, I changed my mind. I don't want more tacos,” Alec announces. “I want dessert. We should stop and get a cake or something. It is my birthday.”

“That it is,” Theo agrees.

“So you admit I should get whatever I want,” Alec says, tipping forward. His shirt falls down covering his tummy and he leans his elbows on the plastic folding table, eyes alight with mischief. “We could go somewhere else? I’m legal for a club now.”

He waggles his eyebrows in a way that’s so ridiculous Theo can’t even focus on the fact that Alec is suggesting they go to a club.

“I’m sure there are more exciting things you’d like to do on your birthday than hang out with your brother's boring best friend.”

“You’re not boring,” Alec says, nose wrinkled.

He says it so seriously, as if Theo even suggesting it is offensive to him. Theo can’t imagine why.

“We could probably get a cake or—” but he pauses, his phone buzzing. He flips it over, angling it so Alec can’t see the message just in case.

Jason: party is a go

Theo looks up in time to see Alec avert his gaze, clearly trying to pretend he wasn’t staring. He sips his coke, the line of his throat exposed.

Being alone with Alec is unexpectedly easy and Theo is loath to have it end. He reminds himself that he’s being selfish, that Alec would definitely rather be at a party full of his siblings and friends if he knew it was waiting for them.

Theo: be there in thirty minutes

Once he’s texted Jason he pockets his phone and returns his attention to Alec. This time he doesn’t pretend not to stare, and an unfamiliar weight settles on his chest. No one has ever looked at him with such unmasked intensity, and the well-crafted excuses Theo mentally rehearsed all night fly out the window as he ends up giving the world’s most obvious lie.

“I’m kinda tired. I should probably get you home.”

He expects a protest or maybe a plea to stop for dessert on the way, already mentally planning a second text to Jason to explain the delay when Alec stands.

“Alright then, let’s go.”

Somehow Theo had expected Alec to protest, even hoped for it, which makes no sense at all. Alec agreeing to head back to the party awaiting him is exactly what Theo needed to happen, so he’s not sure why he doesn’t feel any relief.

Alec stands collecting both of their trash before tossing it in the bin near the food truck before making his way back to Theo’s car. All the while he’s strangely subdued, offering no witty quips at Theo for staring, or dramatic requests for his birthday cake. It’s a side of Alec that Theo has never seen before.

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