Page 109 of Cross the Line

“Wait, the feelings you had for someone. That was Alec?”

It would be so easy to lie, to pretend the sex had been a one-time mistake and beg forgiveness so things didn’t get more complicated. Yet as another lie takes shape on the tip of his tongue, the idea of saying it out loud fills Theo with dread. Even if Alec never speaks to him again, even if it makes Jason hate him, he can’t lie about this. Not when Alec was so brave. He might not have much to offer Alec, but the truth is something he does have.

“I didn’t mean to,” Theo whispers. “We were just hanging out. Friends, you know? He’s so easy to like and he’s funny, and he doesn’t take my bullshit and he pushes me and he’s so beautiful.”

“Oh my god, this isn’t happening,” Jason groans. He scrubs a hand over his stubbled jaw. “What the fuck, Theo? How long?”

“Since Alec’s birthday.”

“You’ve been sleeping with my brother for two months?” Jason looks mildly nauseated, but also confused and angry, and Theo hates that he’s the cause of it all.

“To be completely transparent, I only fucked him once. Well, and the kitchen thing, but?—”

“Wait, that time I came over and he was here? You guys were together? All that shit Alec said was a lie? You made him lie to me? You lied to me?”

Theo hangs his head. “Yes.”

“The Coke in the fridge,” Jason mutters. “I can’t believe I didn’t see it before.”

“What?”

“A few weeks ago when I was looking for a drink, there was Coke in your fridge. I couldn’t figure out why it was there. You don’t drink that.” Jason takes a breath. “You bought it for him.”

“He likes Coke.”

“I know that.” Jason’s voice is tinged with unfamiliar sharpness. “He’s my baby brother.”

“He’s not a baby anymore.”

“Fuck me.” Jason paces back and forth on the front porch. Suddenly he stops, turning his gaze on Theo and the look on his face is unlike any Theo’s ever seen. “Wait, was he here tonight? Is that why he was out at two in the morning?”

“Yes, but how do you know he was out? Did he tell Charlie or?—”

“He’s in the hospital, Theo.”

The silent drive across town to the hospital is tense. It’s clear Jason is pissed at him, but whether for fucking his baby brother or lying about it, Theo’s not sure. Maybe both. Jason’s never been mad at him before like this, and it’s a horrible feeling. Along with the guilt at what he’s done, there is also fear. The kind that makes his insides feel wrong. Alec is hurt and every moment without seeing him hurts.

According to Jason, the hospital had trouble figuring out Alec’s identity since his phone was broken in the accident and he had no identification on him, which meant he’d been hurt and alone for who knows how long until someone could find out who to contact. Eventually someone figured it out based on his university hoodie and his player profile on the school website, leading them to call the King brothers since their parents were out of town.

Turns out Jason didn’t have any idea what happened, and had stopped at Theo’s house on the way to the hospital to get Theo for moral support. Great fucking best friend Theo was.

“Jason,” Theo tries when the hospital comes into view at the far end of the road.

“Don’t.”

Theo rubs his hands over his knees, feeling like he might be sick. “I’m so sorry.”

“For fucking my brother, or lying to me? I’m your best friend.” Jason slams his hand against the steering wheel, the horn blaring. “We promised no lies. You lied to me.”

That answers the question of what he’s pissed about, then.

“I didn’t mean to. None of this was supposed to happen and?—”

“Just stop,” Jason sighs, weaving his way through traffic. If he’s not careful he’s gonna get a speeding ticket, but Theo’s not about to point that out. Jason is one of the most even-keeled, mellow people alive, but when he’s angry it’s bad. Right now he’s not just angry, he’s scared, which is a dangerous combo. Theo knows him well enough to know from the clench of his jaw and the way he white-knuckles the steering wheel, that he’s terrified about his brother.

Much as Theo wants to push the issue right now, he knows Jason needs a minute before he’s going to be ready to talk to Theo. Trying to push for a resolution now when he’s so upset about Alec would only be for Theo’s benefit, and he’s been selfish enough already.

This time of day the visitor lot is empty, but it still takes time to get from the parking structure to the main hospital. By the time they manage to get to the main entrance, get visitor passes and find Charlie and Andrew in the second floor waiting room, Theo feels like he’s going to pass out.

---