Page 120 of Break the Rule
Head throbbing,Charlie groans, trying to drown out the strange buzzing sound filling his ears. For a moment, his sleep-addled brain is sure he dreamed it, but then the buzzing sound gets louder and more noticeable until not even the pillow over his head is enough to drown it out.
Every inch of Charlie’s body protests when he moves, possibly because of the tequila he drank last night, or maybe because he’s all but lived in this bed for the last few days, only getting up to piss or feed his pets.
Squinting at the clock on his side table, Charlie curses. It’s barely eight in the morning, way too early to be awake. Against his own desires, he crawls out of bed, bleary eyed and cranky as he stumbles towards the bedroom window.
Pulling the curtain back, he’s surprised to find Jason standing outside his bedroom window with a goddamn lawn mower idling beside him.
Charlie unlocks the window, shoving it open and blinking against the onslaught of sunlight. “What the fuck are you doing?”
Jason pauses, turning towards the house and smiling. “Good morning, Charlie.”
“Don’t ‘good morning’ me, asshole.” Charlie’s head pounds, his mouth like sandpaper. He’s not sure he’s ever been this hungover—or this unhappy. He wants to crawl back in bed and forget the whole world exists. “What are you doing?”
“Mowing your lawn,” Jason grins. “It was overgrown as shit.”
“I can see that,” Charlie sighs, rubbing his temples. “Why?”
“Because you don’t take care of your yard.”
“Not why is it overgrown,” Charlie lashes out. “Why the fuck areyouhere mowing it? It’s too goddamn early.”
“Oh, because Andrew told me to,” Jason says, entire body brightening when Theo appears holding two donuts. He passes one to Jason who hums happily, sprinkles tumbling down onto his hoodie when he takes a massive bite.
“Oh, hey, Charlie.” Theo smiles, as if there is anything to smile about. “Morning.”
“Why are you here too?”
“Charlie’s a little cranky,” Jason pipes up, “don’t take it personally.”
“Um, okay.” Theo takes a bite of his donut, eating it far more neatly than Jason. “Did you want a donut? There's more inside.”
“No, I don’t want a fucking donut. I want you two to go away.”
“Can’t,” Jason says around another mouthful. “We’re on yard duty.”
“Did Andrew tell you that?” Charlie asks, debating killing his twin for this treachery. He told Andrew last night he was going to drink himself stupid and stay in bed all weekend.
“Yes,” Jason answers.
“Alec is making me help,” Theo offers, inching closer to Jason.
“What the fuck does Alec have to do with this?”
“Alec is inside cooking while Andrew cleans.”
“What the fuck?” Charlie groans. “Go away.”
“Can’t. Between the two of you, I’m definitely listening to Andrew,” Jason shrugs, managing to shove the rest of his donut into his mouth before returning his attention to the lawn mower.
“You’re gonna listen to Andrew over me, too?” Charlie glares at Theo.
“No.” He takes a bite of his donut, chewing slowly. “But I’m definitely listening to Alec.”
“Fuck you both,” Charlie groans, slamming his window shut then yanking the curtain closed.
Before he can leave his bedroom to demand answers from his meddling brothers, the door opens and his light is flipped on, taking him from half-awake to fully awake against his own free will.
“Good, you're awake.”
