Page 113 of Break the Rule
“She loves me, really,” Charlie laughs, squatting down beside Eden to press a cheek to his cheek. “You wanna meet Alec and his friends?”
Personally, Eden has met enough new people to last a lifetime, but even he has enough manners not to say that out loud. That, and he knows exactly how important Alec is to Charlie, who has shared more than one fond memory of his baby brother.
Holding out a hand to Eden as he rises at the same time, Charlie smiles.
“It was lovely meeting you, Eden,” Amanda says, “come back and chat with us. We’d love to get to know the man who can put up with Charlie.”
“You’re all bullying me,” Charlie gasps, but his wide smile makes it clear he’s enjoying it.
“Yeah, yeah,” Amanda scoffs. “Where’s Andrew anyway?”
“Oh, he went to the store to buy some more sweet potatoes because, well—we don’t need to talk about why. He should’ve been back by now though.”
As if summoned, Andrew steps into the backyard in his typical khakis and polo, his usual pastel ensemble replaced by a deep maroon polo and a pair of dark loafers. He smiles at Eden, waving.
“You came.”
“Hi,” Eden mumbles, surprised when Andrew walks over and envelops him in a hug.
Eden sinks into the embrace, pressing his face into Andrew’s shoulder.
“Breathe, Eden.” Andrew squeezes him a little bit tighter. “You got this.”
Eden exhales a shuddering breath, embarrassed by how much he needed to hear those words. Andrew is the only person beside Addy who knows how nervous he was about today. He hadn’t meant to tell Andrew, but somehow, as is oft to happen when texting Andrew, he’d let all his fears slip out the nightbefore. Andrew has a way of dragging things out of Eden without even trying.
“Excuse me, you’re stealing my boyfriend.”
“Fuck off,” Andrew says, rubbing Eden’s back. His words are intended for Eden, but loud enough for Charlie to hear as he teases, “you want me to get rid of him?”
A half-snort of a laugh erupts from Eden, making his chest feel lighter than it has since he got here. “I think I’ll keep him around.”
“Ha,” Charlie crows. “See, he likes me better.”
“Don’t push your luck,” Eden grumbles, stepping out of the embrace and relieved to see that Charlie’s friends have gone back to their conversation and are no longer staring at him. The attention was too much.
“So did you meet everyone?” Andrew asks.
“Charlie was about to introduce me to Alec and his friends,” Eden says, noting the pinch between Andrew’s eyebrows when he says it.
Before he can question Andrew’s expression, Charlie takes his hand and guides him across the yard. He spots Agnes sleeping in the shade beside Birdie, who is watching the other dog run around the yard in circles.
“Alec,” Charlie yells.
One of the guys—the shortest, a head full of gorgeous curls and the same warm brown eyes as Charlie—turns when his name is called. He looks so different from the twins or Jason, yet their relation seems obvious if you know where to look. They have the same brown eyes, the same chin, and at least in Alec’s case, the same warm skin tone. Though unlike his brothers, his bare arms are covered in freckles, as is the rest of him.
Alec’s expression is unreadable as he approaches, something unexpectedly tight in his jaw as he turns to look at Charlie.Eden tries to make sense of it, unsure about what’s going on. He thought Charlie and Alec were close.
The other two guys follow behind Alec. One of them is wearing a backwards cap and a fraternity t-shirt along with a shit-eating grin as he playfully shoves the other guy who flips him off.
“Hey guys, this is Eden. Eden, this is Alec, my brother, and his best friends. That tall, handsome fucker is Riley.” Riley lifts a hand to wave, and Eden notices he too, has a few friendship bracelets on, including one that matches Alec and the other guy. “That antisocial guy is Hunter.”
“Don’t be a dick, Charlie,” Alec says. “Or maybe you just can’t help it.”
“It’s fine,” Hunter shrugs. “I am antisocial.”
“Charlie’s still an asshole.”
Even Hunter looks surprised by Alec’s words, a sharpness in them that doesn’t feel like the same teasing from Charlie’s friends a few minutes ago.
