Page 21 of Break the Rule
“How long do you think it’ll be until he makes a move?”
“Given that answering that could potentially impact our bet, I’m not saying anything,” Andrew replies, starting his engine. “But it’s Jason, so.”
Charlie hums, staring out the window as Andrew pulls onto the road. He, Andrew, and Alec made a bet a few years ago about when Jason would realize he wasn’t straight and do somethingabout it. Charlie pegged Jason’s bi-awakening coming in the form of Theo, part of the reason he always tried to talk Alec out of being in love with him. Given how in love with his little brother Theo seems to be, Charlie was clearly wrong about him and Jason secretly being in love. He’s amended his bet answers since they got together, but Andrew and Alec said no more changes were allowed, which means Charlie’s odds of winning are pretty damn low now given that he assumed Jason would get married and divorced before coming into a mid-life crisis slash sexual awakening. He really hates losing.
In hindsight, he probably shouldn’t have been so blunt about Jason’s very obvious feelings for Emerson if he wanted to win, but when push comes to shove, he cares about his brothers more than any stupid bet. For all the shit he loves to give Jason, he really is the best, and he deserves to be happy. From the looks of things, he could be happy with Emerson—if they ever get on the same page.
“You’re really quiet, it's weird.”
“First I’m too loud, now I’m too quiet?”
Andrew makes a derisive noise. “I’ve never told you that you were too loud and you know it, asshole. You were just being too blunt. There’s a big difference. You know Jason can’t always handle that. He’s?—”
“Soft,” Charlie finishes, slumping in his seat. He does know, which makes Charlie a little bit of an asshole probably. He only hopes Jason knows he means well, even if his delivery methods often leave something to be desired.
“Exactly,” Andrew agrees, merging into the right lane and flipping on his blinker before jumping onto the freeway. “He and Emerson are cute together.”
“I know,” Charlie sighs, unsure why that makes him feel mildly nauseated. “First Alec and now Jason.”
“Having his first crush on a guy doesn’t mean they’re going to settle down and get married like Alec and Theo are, you know.”
“I know but Jason is so…so—domestic. He and Alec probably have dreams about white picket fences and babies and shit.”
“Falling in love isn’t the worst thing in the world.” Andrew’s fingers tap on the steering wheel. Three times with his left hand then three times with his right hand. He repeats it again, matching the number of taps on each side, one of his anxious tells.
“Do you ever want?—”
“Are you hungry?” Andrew interrupts, not letting Charlie get the goddamn question out.
Discomfort grows in his gut. Not for the first time, he wonders if somehow it’s his fault that Andrew is so uncomfortable with attention. Growing up, he’d noticed how much his brother disliked attention and made his own personality bigger and louder to ensure his twin was safe in the shadows where he wanted to be. Now though, now he worries he let him hide when maybe he should have tried to bring him out into the light with him.
“Annie.”
“We could stop at Juanita’s,” Andrew suggests, changing lanes and exiting the freeway before Charlie has a chance to answer. Not that he would say no. For all he loves to argue with Andrew for fun, he would never deny him.
“Sure,” Charlie answers.
“I just remembered I forgot to do my laundry.”
“Bullshit,” Charlie counters. “You don’t forget things.”
Andrew’s fingers tighten on the steering wheel. “Fine. I just…need to go home.”
“We could get takeout and watch a shitty movie,” Charlie suggests. He hates when Andrew gets like this. It makes him physically ill when Andrew tries to pull away. Alone time mightbe fine for other people but not forthem. Andrew isn’t supposed to need time away from Charlie.
“I’m not hungry,” Andrew answers, turning on Los Arboles. The tree lined streets give way to cracked sidewalks and weed-filled curbs as Andrew turns into the small shopping center. Time has worn down the facade, the peeling paint for thelavanderiaand thepanaderiain stark contrast to the fresher paint from Juanita’s, since it’s the newest place to open in here, taking over a small donut shop that went out of business.
The familiarity of it soothes some of the agitation in Charlie, though it doesn’t abate the heaviness in his chest.
“I can come back and get you,” Andrew offers. “Just text me when you’re done eating.”
“Thanks,” Charlie replies, itching to push but equally afraid to do so. Andrew hasn’t had one of his isolation meltdowns in a while, and Charlie hates himself for how wrong-footed it makes him feel.
“You sure you don’t want me to get anything for you?” Charlie asks, hand lingering on the door handle as he swings it open.
“I’m good,” Andrew insists.
“If you change your mind, just text me.”
