Page 61 of Break the Rule
“I might have a break coming,” Eden offers, unsure what the hell he’s doing.
What is it about these goddamn King men that has Eden doing shit he normally wouldn’t?Ugh. He needs to reel this shit in.
“You might have to wait a bit.” Eden stands a little taller, preparing for Andrew to tell him never mind.
“I don’t mind,” he replies instead. “I haven’t eaten lunch yet, maybe I could get something.”
“Caldo de pollowith a side of rice and beans, separate bowls for everything and a side of tortillas.”
“How did you know that?”
“Charlie ordered it for you once,” Eden shrugs, uncomfortable with the intensity of Andrew’s gaze. “It’s no big deal.”
“It is to me,” Andrew counters. “Thank you for remembering.”
Uncomfortable with Andrew being grateful for Eden doing the bare fucking minimum by remembering his order, he directs Andrew to a booth before passing his order along to Rosio. Unlike Charlie who makes small talk with everyone, Andrew sits quietly in the corner, staring at his phone while he waits for his food that Eden brings along with two sodas—because if he’s really going to do this he needs a hefty side of sugar and caffeine.
Whatever it is Andrew thinks he’s doing, he’s going to regret it after ten minutes with Eden. Better to do them both a favor and get it over with now.
“Look,” Eden starts, sliding into the booth opposite Andrew. “We need to get a few things clear.”
“Sure,” Andrew says, grabbing a tortilla and rolling it up. “Like what?”
“Like what you think you’re getting out of this? Why are you really here?”
“I told you, for Charlie.”
“Is that all?” Eden presses.
“I mean I guess that’s not the only reason,” Andrew says, biting off the end of his tortilla.
“I knew it,” Eden groans. “Look, I'm not into sharing. Been there, done that. Not even money could make me do it again. If this is some sort of weird twin thing, I don’t want in.”
“Gross,” Andrew frowns, dropping his tortilla. “Why does everyone always think that? I don’t want to share with Charlie. I don’t even want—well, it doesn’t matter. That’s not what this is.
“So you’re just here because?—”
“Because my brother isn’t happy, and when he’s not happy, I’m not happy. He’s pretending he’s fine, that he’s okay with what happened, but he can lie to everyone—including himself—but he can’t lie to me. He’s a disaster, and not his usual fun-loving disaster but a not-sleeping-and-throwing-himself-into-his-art-disaster. He can’t stop thinking about you.”
“He’ll get over it,” Eden says, unsure why Andrew’s confession makes it hard to swallow his drink.
“Maybe, or maybe not. Look, I’m not pretending you’re his one true love. I’m saying that whatever is going on between you two issomethingbecause I’ve never seen him act like this over someone. Ever. Charlie doesn’t do relationships.”
“Exactly,” Eden interrupts. “We agreed to one and done.”
“Then why can’t either of you move on?” Andrew challenges.
“Who said I can’t move on?” Eden objects.
“You’re sitting here with me. If you really didn’t want anything to do with Charlie, you would’ve told me to fuck off.”
“Fuck off.”
“Tell me that again and I will. I’ll get up, pay my bill and walk out of here. I won’t pretend you’ll never see me again because I love the food too much, but if you mean it—if you truly don’t want anything to do with Charlie, then I’ll respect that. I’ll walk out that door and then next time I’m in here, I’ll be nothing more than another patron to serve. I’ll make sure Charlie does the same, that you never have to deal with either of us again. Is that what you want, Eden?”
Andrew is straightforward and blunt in a different way than Charlie, less in your face yet no less direct. For reasons Eden doesn’t understand, he believes Andrew. Eden might not be thesmartest guy around, but he’s got something books and school don’t teach—survival skills. He knows how to read a room, how to gauge whether someone is full of shit, and how much he needs to hide his true self to stay safe.
Tracking Andrew’s body language and tone, it’s clear he means what he says. If Eden wanted Andrew and Charlie to get the fuck out of his life, he just needs to say so. It would be so easy to say,yeah, fuck off.
