Page 17 of Cross the Line

“Dammit, Alec. You know what I mean.” Even without Theo’s glasses, the change in Alec’s demeanor is noticeable, his entire body stiffening. “Look, I don’t want you to get hurt. Again. He’s a good guy, but?—”

“But he doesn’t like me romantically,” Alec finishes. “Yes I know, Charlie. Thank you so much for reminding me how unwanted I am.”

“You know I’m just looking out for you. How many times are you gonna get your heart broken by the same guy? You need to move on.”

Theo’s stomach churns uncomfortably. He hadn’t known Alec had feelings for anyone, but then again, why would he? Apart from seeing him at family get-togethers, he and Alec hadn’t crossed paths much since he started college. Sure, Alec goes to school in the same city, but he isn’t Jason’s baby brother anymore; he’s living his own life. Theo has a busy job and Alec has college and soccer. Theo sighs, knowing that Alec is around the King house enough that Theo could’ve seen him if he wanted to and these are all nothing but excuses. The one who put distance between them is Theo. Alec had tried over the years. He’d invited Theo to his first college game, or to hang out when Jason was busy. What had started out as a means to protect Alec had turned into a loss of closeness that Theo feels acutely now.

He can’t help but wonder if he’d accepted all those invites, if he and Alec could’ve been friends in their own right. He wonders if they still can now.

“He’s not gonna hurt me again, because I know what I’m getting myself into this time,” Alec snaps.

Theo can’t help but frown. Alec is young and gorgeous and funny, any guy would be lucky to have him, though from the sounds of it, this idiot Alec likes doesn’t know that.

“Things were different last night.” Charlie lowers his voice. “I saw how you kept looking at him. I have eyes. You’re going to get your heart broken for real this time.”

“It’s my heart and I can do whatever I want with it.”

“I know.” Charlie’s sigh is so deep that Theo feels it in his chest. “That’s the worst part. I’ve protected you since you were a kid, and I can’t protect you from this and I hate it, Ally. I fucking hate it.”

No one but Charlie has ever been allowed to use that nickname with Alec. Andrew and Jason tried and learned early on to respect Alec’s boundaries.

“I don’t need protection. I know he’s probably never going to feel the same, but I can’t move on. Not yet.” Alec sets his spatula down. “Don’t look at me like that. I don’t need your pity, okay? I’m a big boy. I can handle this.”

“Of course you can,” Charlie tells him. He pitches his voice low enough Theo can’t make out what else is said, but whatever it is has Alec launching himself at his brother, burying his face against his chest as Charlie wraps him up in a tight embrace. Charlie towers over him, not quite as tall as Jason but close. And though he’s far lankier, he’s still big enough that all that’s visible are Alec’s arms, which hold on tightly.

Theo squeezes his eyes shut, guilt making his stomach churn. He shouldn’t have been listening, and he needs to find a way to alert them to his being awake without making it seem like he was spying. Groaning loudly, he stretches out and bumps the couch with his leg, hoping to make enough noise that it’ll look like he just woke up. It works. By the time he’s sat up and retrieved his glasses, Charlie is back to sitting on a stool at the kitchen island and Alec has returned to watching the stove.

“He lives,” Alec announces, far too loudly. He’s showered, his curls a little damp at the ends still. There’s a drop of water that’s slowly making its way down the back of his neck and in between his shoulder blades. Shoulder blades that Theo has a perfect view of, because for reasons unknown to Theo, he decided to start cooking in nothing but a pair of obscenely thin gray sweats and one of his mom’s aprons. It’s got frills and flowers, cinched at Alec’s waist, and the sight of the floral bow tied right at the base of his muscular back is making Theo wish he were drunk again.

“You look too happy considering I feel like I’m dying.”

“I’d say sorry but I don’t like to lie.” Alec says it with a smile that makes it impossible to be bothered by his words. “It's your own fault for drinking so much. You and Jason are idiots, you know.”

“It was your big birthday.” The excuse is feeble even to his own ears. Theo’s pretty sure he didn’t even drink that much when he turned twenty-one.

“Yeah, we had to have fun,” Jason pipes up from beside Theo. He makes his way closer to the kitchen, lured awake by the smell of food.

“Well, we know how much Alec loves a party boy.” Charlie snorts.

Alec pales and Theo’s stomach sinks. He suspected he wasn’t Alec’s type anymore, but hearing confirmation still stings more than it has any right to.

“Put something in your mouth and shut up,” Alec grumbles, shoving a massive plate of pancakes in front of Charlie.

“Have I told you lately I love you and you’re my favorite brother?” Charlie tells Alec.

“What about me?” Andrew pipes up, descending the stairs two at a time. It never fails to amaze Theo how he somehow manages to look exactly like Charlie and yet nothing like him. Their personalities are so visibly different as adults. Charlie’s dark hair is as wild and as haphazard as his wrinkled tie-dyed shirt with paint stains, boxers and mismatched socks. Then there’s Andrew, who looks entirely put together, his hair the same length as Charlie’s but brushed neatly to the side in an attractive swoop, dressed in a pale blue polo with ironed khakis and sensible brown loafers.

“You can’t be my favorite. You hogged the womb.”

Andrew flips him off while smiling widely. “Morning everyone.”

“Why aren’t I the favorite?” Jason frowns, slumping into the barstool next to Charlie.

“You aren’t my favorite because you don’t cook for me,” Charlie points out, waving his fork in Jason’s direction. “Plus Alec’s cute.”

“I’m cute,” Jason pouts.

“You’re my favorite,” Theo points out, unable to stand Jason looking like a dejected puppy.

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