Page 109 of Make the Play
“I want to know more about this homecoming thing,” Jason demands. “I don’t remember—” but his words are cut short by the sound of very loud voices coming up the driveway.
“I don’t understand why we had to rush,” Alec sighs. “You’re being so weird today.”
“I’m not being weird,” Theo counters.
Jason turns to greet them, his bulk temporarily shielding Emerson from view as he watches his best friend and brother amble up the walkway. Despite Alec’s grumbling, he and Theo are holding hands, and Alec’s expression is light.
“What’s up, asshole?” Alec grins, throwing his arms around Jason in a hug. He moves when Theo demands a turn, clapping Jason on the back before pulling him into a bear hug.
“How’s it going?” Theo quietly inquires.
“Good,” Jason answers, clinging to Theo for a few extra seconds. “Really good.”
Theo pulls back from the hug with that familiar smile of his, and Jason’s heart is so damn full having most of his favorite people in one place.
“Emerson is here,” Alec loudly announces from behind them. “How come no one told me he was coming?”
Jason turns to reply, automatically slipping his arm around Emerson’s shoulder to pull him close. Before Jason can get a word out, Alec’s eyes widen comically, and he lets out a string of colorful expletives in both English and Spanish.
“Motherfucker,” Alec curses again, having already drawn the attention of everyone in the house. “I lost the fucking bet.”
“What bet?” Jason asks.
Alec doesn’t answer, turning his attention to Theo. “All afternoon you reminded me about this dinner, making sure I kept on track so we weren’t late. Did you know?” Alec jabs his finger in the center of Theo’s chest not taking a breath or waiting for his reply. “Fuck you, you knew.”
Alec huffs, crossing his arms in what is unmistakably a pout.
“Alec,” Theo tries.
“Don’t‘Alec’me, asshole,” Alec grumbles, turning his attention to Emerson. “Sorry, Emerson. Hi.”
“Um, hello,” Emerson replies, clearly unsure how to take what’s happening.
“He’s not mad,” Jason whispers. “He’s just a nosy fucker like Charlie who hates being the last to know anything.”
“I’m not a nosy fucker! I?—”
“Hello,” Andrew says, appearing out of seemingly nowhere in the doorway. He’s so damn quiet it’s hard to believe he’s a King sometimes.
In stark contrast, Charlie’s loud voice echoes up the walkway. “Annie, you left me in the car. What were you in such a hurry—oh, what’s all this then?”
At his side, Emerson tenses under the scrutiny of Jason’s entire family, everyone staring at them as Charlie and Andrew work out what everyone else already knows.
“Ah, fuck,” Charlie curses, draping himself over Andrew’s back dramatically. “I lost the bet.”
“I didn’t,” Andrew smirks. “Nice to see you again, Emerson.”
“Hi Andrew,” Emerson says, tightening his arm around Jason’s waist.
“I see you boys all know Emerson,” his mom says, eyeing them keenly.
“Emerson went to pizza night with Theo and Alec a few weeks ago,” Charlie says. “Jason’s been crushing on Emerson forever.”
“The fuck, Charlie?” Jason gapes.
“Behave,” Andrew hisses to Charlie.
“What?” Charlie shrugs. “He has. We can all stop pretending we don’t know now.”
