Page 109 of Break the Rule
“And you wait. You wait, and you hope Alec forgives you the way he forgiveseveryone. I’m pretty sure after what Theo did, if Alec can forgive him, he can forgive you.”
“Are you comparing me to Theo?” Charlie gapes.
“Sure am,” Andrew confirms, walking away from Charlie.
“Where are you going?”
“To clean up the fucking kitchen before everyone gets here.” Andrew walks towards the kitchen, pointing a stern finger at Charlie. “Now sit there and don’t cause any more trouble today.”
Charlie drops his gaze to Agnes, stroking her back. “We can do that, right girl? No more trouble today.”
19EDEN
Eden losestrack of how long he stands on the front steps, hands hanging at his side. He should knock. He needs to knock.
Or he could leave. Charlie might not even notice. There will be plenty of people here today, people Eden doesn’t know. People who know and love Charlie, who will take one look at Eden and know what Eden knows and Charlie doesn’t—that he isn’t good enough.
Fuck.
The longer he stands outside, the more impossible knocking seems. What the actual fuck is he doing here, at Charlie’s Friendsgiving? And dressed up. Looking down at himself, he suddenly worries he should’ve worn jeans and a hoodie. One of Charlie’s brothers is a jock—a football coach Charlie said. Sure, he also said he’s recently come out as bisexual and has a boyfriend, but that doesn’t mean he will be chill with what Eden is wearing. In fact, Eden has no idea how safe it’ll be to be, well—himself.
This morning, fresh out of the shower and eager to see Charlie, he let Addy and Ella help him choose his outfit. He’d stupidly let himself get excited. He’d even let Addy talk him into borrowing one of her favorite sweaters. It’s black, but cutin a deep v showing off Eden’s neck and throat, layered with so many necklaces they’ll probably tangle. He’s got just as many bracelets on, the excessive jewelry and makeup feeling almost like a shield. He also let Ella pick out his skirt, and she’d naturally picked the fanciest one he owns but has rarely worn—layers of delicate cream tulle that shimmer in the sun and a bow in the back that highlights Eden’s tiny waist. He’s longed to have an excuse to wear it somewhere besides one of Ella’s tea parties, ever since Addy got it for him last year. He has yet to be brave enough to wear it anywhere.
When he’d looked in the mirror, the delicate skirt and form fitting sweater made him feelpretty—something he’d never, ever been allowed to want to be before.
Bile rises in his throat as he reaches up to touch his hair. He’s worn it down. It skims his shoulders, and Eden twitches with the need to put it up, to hide it. How did he think this was going to be okay?
Turning to leave, he makes it halfway down the front path when he hears the door open.
“Eden?”
Everything in him wants to run. Charlie’s voice anchors him, feet rooted to the spot. He stares at his pink Converse, at the peeling plastic on the sides and the small hole near his toe. He didn’t have nicer shoes, and even if he had, he wouldn’t have worn them.
“Where are you going?”
Eden doesn’t answer. Can’t answer. Can’t look up. If he sees Charlie’s big brown eyes and handsome smile, he’s going to cave. He knows it.
“Hey.” Charlie’s voice softens as he moves around to stand in front of Eden. “Wow.”
Braver than he feels, Eden lifts his head and locks gazes with Charlie. He’s clearly tried to tame his hair today, hisshirt something silky and soft that’s cut low at the throat. His pants are a hideous pattern with colorful blobs, and he’s got on another pair of garish Crocs with little pie charms. The outfit is hideous, and Charlie looks perfect. The fucker.
“You look…holy shit.”
“Shut up,” Eden hisses, tugging on the sleeves of Addy’s sweater. He can’t believe he wore this. He should’ve changed. It’s too much. It’s?—
“You look so beautiful.”
Oh.
Oh.
There’s a lump in Eden’s throat. It might be his breakfast trying to come back up. Might be his heart trying to figure out if this is the best or worst moment of his life. He can’t fucking tell. All he knows is no one haseverfucking looked at him the way Charlie King is right now.
Over the years, Eden has seen men look at him with arousal, with longing, with a desire to possess. He’s seen disgust and confusion in equal measure. But no one has ever looked at him like he was something special, something precious.
Definitely the worst thing to ever happen to him. Fucking Charlie. How the fuck is Eden supposed to come back from this? How is he supposed to move on when Charlie does? This is too much.
“Fuck, baby.” Charlie inches forward, crowding into Eden’s space. Eden should push him away, should hit him or yell. Should do anything it takes to make him stop looking at Eden like this. “I’m so glad you came.”
