Page 61 of Cross the Line

“Is this like queer solidarity?”

“Maybe,” Alec mumbles around the chain in his mouth.

“Dude, you know they make special jewelry to chew on, right?”

“I like the taste,” Alec admits, letting the chain fall from his mouth. “Don’t judge me.”

“Older men and sucking on necklaces. Anything else I should know about you?”

“Yeah, I can’t hold my liquor for shit.”

“Why do I need to know that?” Hunter asks.

“Because you’re coming with me,” Alec says, snatching the remote from Hunter's lap, and switching off the game before grabbing his hand.

If Hunter minds being manhandled he says nothing, allowing Alec to drag him towards the door. Alec’s already reaching for the handle when he turns, fixing his gaze on Hunter. “I didn’t even ask if you wanna change.”

“Am I supposed to change?” Hunter looks down at his jeans and wrinkled shirt, plucking at his Santa Leon University t-shirt. In the two weeks since moving in, Alec’s only ever seen him in different variations of that outfit. “I don’t think I can pull off what you’re wearing.”

“First, all bodies are crop top bodies.”

“Your body is definitely a crop top body,” Hunter interjects and though the words seem flirty, the tone is the same one he uses to explain to Alec why he’s losing at video games or complain about who drank all the orange juice. Hunter’s a tough egg to crack and Alec decides not to read too much into it.

“Second,” he continues, not addressing Hunter's comment, “you wear whatever you’re comfortable in. I for one am, uh—” Alec pauses, looking down at himself. He basically lives in athletic wear. His closet is full of team hoodies and shirts. He rarely wears anything besides sweats or running shorts. The loose jeans and crop top he’s wearing tonight are casual, but a far cry from his normal attire. Truth be told, it’s the first time he’s ever worn the damn top. Antonio and Elsa had taken him on a day trip to Mexico city to play tourist and he’d inevitably been dragged shopping. He’d found the top in the women’s section while following Elsa around and trying to get to know the person his best friend loved. He could see why Antonio loved her. She was beautiful, funny and incredibly perceptive, grabbing the shirt off the hanger and passing it to Alec, who had bought it without a word.

Tonight seemed like as good a night as any to break it out. He feels different in the shirt, hyper aware of his own body, but not in a bad way. It shows off his well-earned stomach muscles and maybe Theo won’t ever see him the way Alec wishes he would, but it doesn’t mean Alec can’t look sexy in front of him.

“I get it,” Hunter says.

Alec nods, grateful he won’t have to try and say any of that out loud.

“So since neither of us have a car, how exactly are we getting across town? Did you call a ride already or?—”

“Theo’s picking us up.”

“Theo,” Hunter echoes in that damn casual tone of his.

“Jason is busy helping one of my older brothers. He’s gonna meet us there,” Alec explains. “Theo’s house isn’t too far from campus and since he would pass this way anyway, he offered to pick me up. No big deal or anything. That’s what friends do and we’re friends.”

“And he won’t mind you bringing me along?”

“Why would he mind?”

“No reason.” Hunter hums. “Alright, let's do this. Although fair warning, I've never had sex with a guy.”

“Pretty sure you can go to a club without fucking,” Alec points out.

“And if someone…wanted to?”

“Wanted to fuck?”

“Uh-huh.”

“I wouldn’t know,” Alec shrugs, wondering why his own virginity keeps popping up lately. He went years keeping it off the radar. “Casual sex isn’t really my thing.”

“Fair,” Hunter nods, slipping his hands into his pockets. “Do you?—”

Alec’s phone rings, interrupting Hunter’s question and making Alec jump. No one ever calls him besides his parents and that’s not usually on Friday night. He pulls it out of his back pocket, a smile forming on his face when he reads the name.

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