Page 101 of Break the Rule
Andrew sighs, walking over to the fridge and pulling a small note card off where it’s held up by several ceramic magnets Charlie made when he took a ceramics class for fun last summer.
He opens the drawer next to the fridge, rummaging around for a pen and muttering to himself about trash and disorganization before bringing the list and pen to Charlie. “I re-organized that drawer like a month ago, why is it so full of shit?”
“It’s called a junk drawer for a reason,” Charlie points out. “I put stuff there when I don’t know where else to put it.”
“There was a system. I have little bins in there. They’re labeled, Charlie.”
“Yeah, that was too organized.”
Andrew sighs. “Whatever. Where’s the gravy bowl?”
“I have a gravy bowl?”
“You know what, just go to the store. Now. I’ll finish this.”
“Are you sure?” Charlie asks. “I did offer to help.”
“Yet you haven’t done anything but watch me for the last hour.”
“You’re so much better at it.”
“Go to the fucking store, Charlie. Also get a case of beer. Theo and Jason will want it, and I only got wine.”
“Right, gnocchi and beer,” Charlie says, adding to the list because he will absolutely, without a doubt, leave the store without them if they’re not written down. “Anything else?”
“That’s it,” Andrew says, turning around with what Charlie can only assume is the gravy bowl. “Charlie?”
“Mhmm?”
“You told Alec about Eden, right?”
Charlie freezes, crumbling the list in his right hand. “I told him I invited a friend.”
“Charlie,” Andrew hisses, slamming the gravy bowl down on the kitchen island so hard the stack of dishes rattle. “You promised. You said you’d tell him yesterday. You said?—”
“I know what I said,” Charlie interrupts.
“Jason’s not going to care, but Alec—you know he’s gonna take this personally.”
“It’s not like I purposefully picked someone younger than me to catch feelings for. Maybe he’ll surprise us and be so excited that I've settled down and got an actual boyfriend that he won’t have any energy left to be upset with me.”
Andrew’s expression makes it very clear what he thinks of that.
“Fuck,” Charlie groans. “He’s gonna have a shit fit.”
“Because of all the shit you gave him over Theo being older than him,” Andrew points out.
“Yes, I’m aware it’s all my fault, thank you, Captain Obvious.”
“You were a dick.” Charlie opens his mouth, but Andrew silences him with a look not even Charlie King would dare cross. “You’re being a dick now by not telling him. The day you andEden made it official, you should’ve told him. He looks up to you, in a way he never has me or Jason.”
“Well if you wanted to make me feel bad, you succeeded, asshole.”
“I don’t want you to feel bad, I want you to take responsibility for the shit you do.”
“That’s kind of harsh,” Charlie grumbles, crossing his arms.
“I think I should go home,” Andrew says. “I’ll come over early tomorrow and help finish.”
