Page 55 of Cross the Line

You don’t know him the way you think, Theo wants to say. He wants to explain the way Alec had shown up on his doorstep hurt and uncharacteristically quiet, how he hadn’t even asked Theo to take her. Theo wants to say a lot of things, but all of them would lead down a path of admitting things he isn’t ready to admit, even to himself, so he takes the coward's way out.

“It’s fine, really. Alec’s looking for a permanent place, anyway.”

Just saying the words makes his throat tight. They’re true, but it’s the first time he’s said them out loud since Alec offered. At the time it had felt like a failsafe, but he’s growing attached hard and fast. Possibly to more than just the kitten.

“Alright, but if you need me to step in, just let me know.”

The last thing Theo wants is Jason talking to Alec for him, so he stays quiet and eats his pizza. He’s halfway through his next slice when his mouth runs without permission.

“When’s the last time you watched Alec play?”

“Shit, I don’t know,” Jason answers, leaning back against the couch. “Probably last year. Or was it his sophomore year? I don’t even know for sure. You know how busy I was coaching. We made the playoffs the last two years and I just couldn’t make time. He told me it was fine, that he didn’t care if we came to watch him play. You know how he is.”

Theo hums, not trusting himself to speak. He thought he knew Alec, but he’s not so sure anymore. He’s starting to wonder how many people really know Alec, and how many only know the easygoing guy he lets them see.

“What makes you ask?” Jason’s question is easy, but the answer is anything but.

“I was just thinking, it’s his last year with the Lions and I realized I've never seen him play. No big deal.”

“Huh.” Jason hums, rubbing a hand over his jaw. “You’re right, it is his last year at school. I wonder when his next game is.”

“Tomorrow,” Theo blurts, fumbling for a recovery. “I saw it online. Some exhibition game against Cal Poly.”

Jason hums again, staring at the ceiling. “We should go.”

“We?” Theo counters, trying to keep his cool. This is exactly what he was angling for, wasn’t it? Hoping if he brought it up, Jason’s brotherly guilt would kick in and he’d go to the game so that Theo could have an excuse to go.

“Obviously I’m not going alone.” Jason sits up grinning. “I wonder if I have time to buy face paint?”

“Why the hell do you need face paint?”

“School spirit, obviously.”

“You’re such an idiot.” Theo laughs.

“That says more about you than me if you’re my best friend.”

Theo laughs again, his tension bleeding away. This is fine. He can do this. He can figure out how to be friends with Alec without losing Jason and everything will be fine.

Everything is not fine.

“Dude, why didn’t you bring a hat?” Jason asks. “Your face is so red. You look like a fucking tomato.”

The sun has nothing to do with Theo’s face being red. Rather it has everything to do with Alec who is currently sprinting across the field like a badass motherfucker with the soccer ball, his footwork as impressive as the rest of him. He looks damn good in his soccer uniform, his bright blue jersey tight across his shoulders and tiny waist, and the movement of his strong thighs as he runs is enough to have Theo nearly panting.

“It's the sweater. Take off that damn sweater,” Jason grumbles, shoving his water at Theo who takes it without a word, gulping down huge mouthfuls of ice water. It does nothing to quench his other thirst, but at least his mouth no longer feels like sandpaper.

The coastal breeze means it rarely gets sweltering in Santa Leon, but with the sun beating down on their heads, sweat rolls down Theo’s neck. Even his light sweater vest feels too heavy and he concedes to Jason’s advice, shrugging it off and leaving him in nothing but his thin white undershirt. He feels under-dressed and still hot, rubbing both hands over his face.

His attention returns to the game when the crowd screams, drawing Theo’s eyes to the field where Alec has just scored his second goal. He kisses his two fingertips, lifting them towards the stands where his classmates go wild. Seconds later Antonio slams into him, followed by several other players Theo doesn’t know.

“King, King, King,” the crowd chants.

Beside him Jason whoops loudly, thumb and forefinger sneaking between his lips as he lets out the world’s loudest whistle. Alec’s eyes are drawn towards the stands and rise to Jason, who is making an absolute fool of himself waving his arms around and yelling. It’s only a few seconds before Alec’s gaze drifts sideways and lands on Theo. Even at a distance his surprise is evident. Hundreds of people are screaming Alec’s name and yet the only person he looks at is Theo, who is acutely aware of every bead of sweat that rolls down his face, of the air that fills his lungs and the blood that pumps through his veins.

The coach is throwing his arms up and Antonio leans in to whisper something in his ear while pulling on Alec’s arm, but the entire time his gaze stays locked on Theo, the smile that spreads across his face enough to knock Theo sideways. His face lights up like the Fourth of July and Theo feels the curl of Alec’s lips in his guts, the weight of Alec’s pleasure tangible.

“That’s my baby brother,” Jason screams loud enough for everyone, including the players, to hear. It earns him two middle fingers from Alec before he takes off across the field.

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