Page 124 of Break the Rule
Charlie doesn’t need to ask what Alec means. The question is obvious.Does Charlie understand why love makes you do stupid things? Why you might hide something for fear of losing it?Regret is bitter, and he wishes he could take back all the harsh words he sent Alec and Theo’s way because he thinks he understands now.
“Yeah, Ally.”
“Oh good, you finally made up,” Andrew says from the archway. “I was giving you both one more day before I scheduled an intervention.”
“You can’t schedule everything,” Charlie points out, ruffling Alec’s curls when he steps out of the hug.
“Yes, you can,” Andrew challenges, heading directly for the coffee pot. “Speaking of—we need a plan.”
“A plan for what?” Charlie asks.
“To get Eden back, obviously,” Alec answers as if he’s in on it. He probably is. The only thing scarier than Andrew with a plan is AndrewandAlec with a plan. All of Andrew’s analytical precision and Alec’s boldness.
“While I appreciate the sentiment, he doesn’t want to see me.”
“You don’t know that,” Andrew challenges, turning around with a mug of coffee in his hand. He sips it slowly, watching Charlie.
“I do, actually. You know because he bolted last weekend and isn’t answering my phone calls or text messages.”
“Yes, it’s very unlike Eden to run when he’s scared. So completely unexpected.”
“Oh, fuck off.”
“I’m serious.”
“Me too,” Charlie says. “He made it clear he didn’t want me.”
“You’re being a dumbass,” Alec tells him, hopping onto the edge of the counter.
“Look none of you know Eden better than me?—”
“Bullshit,” Andrew coughs into his coffee.
“I might,” Alec adds.
“First off, shut up, Annie. Second of all you met him once.”
“Yeah, well once was enough.”
“Don’t talk about him like that,” Charlie growls.
“Wow, one boyfriend and you turn into a caveman,” Alec laughs, his smile firmly back in place. “I didn’t mean I don’t ever want to see him again. I meant once was enough to figure his shit out. To see that what you need is me.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means you need someone who knows what it’s like to love someone who doesn’t think they’re good enough for you, or for our family. Someone who knows what it’s like to love someone who runs away or lets you run because they’re so sure that they’re going to be abandoned that they want it to happen on their terms.”
“Eden’s not like Theo.”
“Different trauma, same flavor,” Alec shrugs, taking another bite of his burrito. “It doesn’t take a genius to see they share the same fucking problem. They’re scared of being loved.”
Charlie mulls that over. Could Alec be right? He’s spent the last week wallowing, alternating between his own hurt and anger over the rejection to missing Eden. He’s tried to figure out what he did wrong when maybe the problem is that he was doing things right. Right enough that he spooked Eden.
“What do I do?” Charlie asks.
“Win him back, obviously,” Alec grins.
“Yeah, but you’ve forgotten one little problem. He doesn’t want to talk to me.”
