Page 41 of Cross the Line

Theo frowns. He hadn’t meant to earn himself this responsibility. Rio might technically be his, but he still has no idea what to do with her, and feels a lot safer with Alec holding her and making all the decisions.

“You can pick,” he tries.

“No, you’re right, she’s yours. You should pick.”

Alec takes a step away from the row of collars, not at all subtly nudging Theo forward. When Theo doesn’t move, he presses his hand into the center of Theo’s lower back and gives a shove, surprisingly strong for his size.

“No pressure, but you’re basically choosing her future.”

“It’s just a collar.”

“Nope, it's her entire future.” He says it so seriously Theo isn’t sure if he’s being serious or hyperbolic. “This could determine her future vibes forever. When I was born, my baby blanket was covered with soccer balls and look where that got me.”

“To be fair, that blanket also had tennis balls and footballs,” Theo grins, reminded of a much smaller version of Alec who used to drag that blanket all over the house, including into Jason’s room to try and play with them.

“See, ball obsessed. It’s like the universe took one look at me when I was born and they knew I’d be gay. I fucking love balls. Why are you blushing? You’re a sexually active bisexual man, don’t you like balls?”

All the blood in Theo’s body rushes directly to his cheeks. “I really don’t think you’re supposed to ask me that in the middle of a pet store.”

“Does that mean there’s somewhere I can ask you that?” Alec is the least bashful virgin Theo’s ever met.

“I genuinely can’t tell if you’re joking or serious.”

“I’m always serious,” Alec deadpans. “Unless I’m not.”

“That isn’t helping in the least,” Theo sighs, pulling his sweater down over his hands. He toys with the wrist, the feeling of knotted yarn beneath his fingers familiar enough to ground him. “Do you actually want to know what I like?”

The question sits heavy in his gut as he waits, unsure why he cares what the answer is. He doesn’t want to like Alec like that. He can’t like Alec like that, so why does he want Alec to like him? He’s spent years making sure Alec got over his crush. Is that what this is? Is he being a selfish prick wanting attention he isn’t willing to give back?

“Wouldn’t you like to know.” Alec grins in a way that has Theo’s insides twisting up. It’s hot and sudden and burns and Theo is a teenager again, trying to subtly check out guys in the locker room, worrying he’s going to get punched in the face or lose his best friend. Probably not jealousy, then, Theo thinks as he tries to tamper down the flare of arousal. Try being the operative word. Alec really is devastatingly pretty, with his full lips, golden skin, dark eyes and freckles. He’s got so many freckles, and Theo wants to brush the collar of the too-big shirt Alec is wearing aside and trace the ones near his collarbone with his fingers and–oh no.

Oh no.

“Like I was saying,” Alec continues, blissfully unaware of Theo’s life threatening to fall apart all around him. “This could determine her entire future.”

“No pressure.” Theo groans.

“I believe in you. Also, I gotta piss.” Rio is unexpectedly pressed against his chest, Alec’s fingers skimming his sweater. The contact is brief, leaving him with his hands full of kitten on unsteady feet as the realization sits heavy and loud in his mind.

He likes Alec. He likes him. He can’t even recall the last time he had an honest to god crush on someone. High school probably, and even then he was smart enough not to do anything about it.

“Pick a collar,” Alec reminds him without bothering to turn around.

Unfortunately, the world does not steady as Alec gets further away, likely because Theo can’t take his eyes off Alec’s backside and the movement of his hips and thighs. It’s only when Alec has rounded the end of the aisle and disappeared from sight that Theo’s gaze snaps down to the kitten in his arms. She appears equally confused by the turn of events, clearly not as comfortable with Theo as she is with Alec, judging by the way she half meows and half hisses while she tries to crawl away.

“I know how you feel,” Theo mutters.

Desperate for a distraction, he turns to the little wall of collars. When it’d been Alec choosing he hadn’t really paid too much attention, but now that it’s all on him he does, gaze roaming over the selection. It should be simple, but nothing in Theo’s life has been simple since Alec came back into his life.

As if to echo his thoughts, his phone rings, Theo doesn’t even need to pull it out of his pocket to know who is calling him on a Saturday morning. The phone rings several more times and Theo debates not answering, because he isn’t in the right frame of mind to make small talk or explain what the hell he’s doing when he barely knows himself. On the fifth ring he pulls it out, knowing it’s Jason and also knowing there’s nothing his best friend hates more than being ignored.

Swiping open the call, he holds it to his ear, wishing Rio would stop attacking his sweater and praying she doesn’t loudly meow while he’s on the phone.

“Thought you were gonna make me go to voicemail, dude.”

“Nah, I just couldn’t find my phone.” This is a blatant lie, but better than the alternative, which is admitting he wasn’t sure he wanted to talk to his best friend. He already knows he’s an asshole for catching feelings for Jason’s brother. He doesn’t need to add on to the pile of misdeeds. “What’s up?”

“Do I need a reason to call my favorite person in the entire world?” Jason asks.

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