2. Theo

CHAPTER 2

Theo

"Stupid fucking traffic," Theo mutters, pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose.

The city of Santa Leon isn't far from Los Angeles miles wise, nestled along the coastline it's a cool reprieve from the traffic and heat of the bigger city

He's been trying to merge into the correct lane at LAX for ten minutes, but no one will let him over, leaving him to sit halfway in the through traffic lane and cause his anxiety to spike. Theo is beginning to question whether he made the right choice agreeing to pick up Alec. He doesn't mind the driving part but he's not cut out for the severe lack of traffic-law-following currently happening. Then again what else did he expect on a Friday night?

He shoots off a text to Alec to let him know he's running late, but when he gets nothing in response he realizes he's going to have to park if he wants to find him. This is what he gets for letting Jason arrange things.

Eventually he manages to find a spot at pick up, pulling into the open spot and eyeing every passenger that comes out of the terminal. None of them are Alec and his eyes start to glaze over. He pushes his glasses up onto the top of his head, rubbing his eyes. He's not sure why he even drinks coffee anymore; he's pretty sure he's becoming immune to the effects of caffeine. That or the lack of sleep. Probably that.

With a yawn he tips his head back, eyes unfocused as he stares out the rolled down passenger window when he catches sight of the most glorious backside he's ever seen. Theo might be bisexual but his attraction definitely leans more male. Especially when they have an ass you could bounce quarters off.

Sitting up a little straighter, Theo straightens his glasses and leans on his center console eying the man's plump backside. His thin gray sweats appear to be hanging on for dear life, the material stretched tight over his thighs and the swell of his bubble butt. he way he's bent over it's impossible to see the rest of him, especially with the group next to him with their mass of luggage, but Theo doesn't need to see his face to appreciate the beauty of what is, unequivocally, one of the nicest asses he's ever seen.

The family with all the luggage moves on and Theo prepares to appreciate the rest of the guy when he notices his hair—or more specifically his curls. The guy's hair has grown a few inches since Theo last saw him a few months ago but there's no mistaking the soft, golden brown hue of them. When he stands he shakes the hair off his face and Theo whimpers, honest to god whimpers, because since when did Alec have a tan like that, or an ass like that?

Unaware he's being watched Alec stretches his arms overhead, exposing a slim strip of his fit belly and a smattering of freckles. Theo's watch beeps, alerting him to a spike in heart rate and all he can do is tap at it agitatedly. Of course he's having goddamn heart palpitations. He just checked out his best friend's baby brother. He's not sure what happened to the knobby-kneed, big-toothed kid who used to beg Theo to play with him, but the man standing there outside of terminal three is not a kid. Not anymore.

Somewhere along the line Alexander King grew up and Theo didn't notice. At least not in the way he is noticing right now. Theo shifts in the driver seat, ignoring the person waving their hands at him from behind him while he watches Alec bend himself in half in an impressive stretch—his flexibility making Theo's tongue feel too big for his mouth.

This is not happening. Theo did not just check out his best friend's baby brother a second time. The first time he could brush aside and ignore with a bit of cognitive dissonance, but the second time there was no mistaking who Theo was checking out.

"Fuck," Theo curses, far louder than he intended, made evident by the handful of people who turn and stare. The only one Theo cares about is the one with the brown eyes. Even after other people look away Alec's gaze is unrelenting. and when Theo doesn't break it Alec raises one eyebrow at Theo, who gets so flustered he accidentally honks the horn. Alec bursts into laughter before grabbing his luggage and making his way over to Theo's car. He tosses his suitcase and backpack into the car before making his way to the passenger side.

"Where's Jason?" Alec asks by way of greeting.

"Nice to see you too, Alec."

"It is nice to see me, isn't it?" Alec grins, both his dimples on full display. Theo's not sure he ever noticed how much more handsome they make his face. "Is that why you're here? You win a contest and a few hours alone with me was the prize?"

"You're so fucking full of yourself," Theo laughs, his heart rate settling. This is fine. This is just Alec. Little Alexander King who was afraid of the dark until he was ten, and slept with a stuffed teddy until he was thirteen. Theo's seen him get his diaper changed and take his first step. Hell he even helped Jason and the twins teach Alec how to ride a bike. The ass appreciation was simply a mistake. One that won't ever happen again. Alec is gorgeous but off limits.

"I am, sadly, not full of anything," Alec bemoans.

Given how shameless Alec is that could either be sexual innuendo, or a plea for food but the only option Theo feels equipped to handle right now is the latter so he goes with that.

"We could go get tacos. Unless you're sick of Mexican food?—"

"No one can be sick of Mexican food," Alec interjects. "I could move to Mexico for the food alone. The land and the people are amazing too but the food. God the food—chilaquiles, enfrijoladas, chile relleno de queso, fresas con crema, and the atoles. I haven't eaten so well since my abuela died."

Of all the King brothers, Alec had taken the loss of his abuela the hardest. She'd passed during Alec's junior year of high school, and it was the longest he'd seen him go without smiling.

"Antonio's family always made sure to make meatless stuff for me too. I ate like a King." He turns his gaze on Theo, waiting for appreciation of his pun, and Theo can't help but laugh at his ridiculousness. "You know what, turn the car around and take me back."

"I take it you had a good time then?" Theo grins.

Alec nods around a yawn. "Antonio's family is really nice. We ate good food and played soccer with the kids in his small town all day. It was the best."

Theo's met Antonio a few times. As Alec's teammate and best friend, he's been invited to several King family events since he and Alec got close in their freshman year; apparently close enough for Antonio to invite Alec to his family's ranch in Mexico for a month. Theo feels a little foolish for not realizing what must be between them sooner.

"I'm sure they liked you too."

"Hopefully," Alec says.

"I'm sure it was nerve-wracking meeting your boyfriend's family for the first time."

"My what?" Alec splutters.

"Your boyfriend, aren't you and him—" but the rest of Theo's sentence can't be heard over Alec howling like a hyena.

"Oh my god, I'm telling Antonio when he gets home next week, this is great." Alec continues to laugh maniacally. "Like I would date a fucking soccer boy, they're annoying and difficult and?—"

"You're a soccer player."

"I'm an anomaly, obviously."

"And I'm confused," Theo admits.

It's not until Alec has stopped laughing, which takes a solid three minutes—Theo times it—that he speaks.

"Antonio proposed to his longtime girlfriend right after we got there. He invited me for moral support and also to distract his family after the announcement. I don't know if you've noticed but I'm pretty good at garnering attention." Theo has definitely noticed but he remains quiet, pretty sure that was a rhetorical question.

"So you were a red herring."

"I guess you could say that. Antonio gets a lot of pressure. His parents sacrificed a lot to get him here. But if you bring your really loud, gay best friend to be annoying then everything you do in comparison seems easier to handle." Alec says it so offhandedly, his tone more serious than self-deprecating that Theo can't help but respond.

"You're not annoying, Alec."

"I'm more than some people can handle but it's cool. I did what I was supposed to and then, well—" Alec shrugs, falling silent.

Much as Theo wants to push the conversation it's clear Alec is done, his eyes focused on something outside the window. He lets out a soft sigh before adjusting his seat as far back as it can go then reclining so he can stretch his legs on the dash. At five foot eight he's a good five inches shorter than Theo and manages it easily.

"Comfortable?" Theo asks, merging into the exiting traffic lane. He tries to bite his tongue on his next words but can't. "You know that if we got into an accident that would be very unsafe."

"It's cool I trust you to drive with all the care and safety befitting the precious cargo you have in the passenger seat." He winks at Theo. "Besides, I need to stretch out my calves they're killing me. You wouldn't believe how cramped I was. I had the middle seat, Theo. The middle seat. Six hours sandwiched between two guys twice my size. Can you imagine?"

"That's really not that hard to imagine," Theo teases.

"Oh fuck you," Alec snorts, folding his arms beneath his head. "Just because you and Jason are built like brick houses doesn't mean I'm small. I'm just the perfect size to be underestimated."

"I'm not built like a brick house," Theo mumbles, unsure why the comment makes him blush. Alec has teased him about his size plenty of times. Between the two of them Jason is definitely built like a brick house—six foot five and big in every way. In comparison Theo's six foot one frame is lankier, his bulk from high school football long gone. He's still in pretty decent shape from his love of hiking but his body has softened with age. He's less a brick house and more of a marshmallow one.

"Fine, Jason is built like a brick house. You're more like—hmmm." Alec reaches over, toying with the edge of Theo's sweater. "You know it's impossible to tell what you're shaped like beneath these sweaters you always wear."

"I know what you want to say, Jason already told me it was hideous. In my defense my office is freezing. They really crank the air conditioner in the summer."

"What's your excuse now? It's almost ninety degrees outside."

What Theo doesn't want to say is he's gotten so used to wearing the sweaters he finds it hard to take them off, even when it gets warm. They're comfortable, safe, and as Alec astutely and unexpectedly pointed out—he can hide in them. Not that he's ever consciously thought about it, but now that Alec's pointed it out he can't deny what is unequivocally true.

"Anyways I didn't say anything about it being hideous," Alec continues, smoothing the sweater down over Theo's belly. It quivers and Theo wonders if Alec can feel it through the knitted material. Probably not. "Maybe you're built like a giraffe."

"I'm not that tall," Theo laughs, perpetually surprised by how easy it is to do it when Alec is around. He hadn't realized how dull and quiet things had been the last couple of months until Alec stepped back into the picture in technicolor.

"Maybe you're just Theo shaped," Alec says softly.

For someone who never takes anything seriously, Alec has a way of throwing out statements that leave Theo feeling surprisingly exposed.

"Hey, would you mind if I put on the radio?" Alec asks, hands hovering over the dial. "Quiet makes me twitchy."

"Sure," Theo agrees, welcoming the distraction.

Alec plugs his phone into the adapter, flipping through his playlist until he finds what he wants. He puts on something loud with a fast beat that Theo would normally never listen to on his own. He finds he doesn't mind, the bass beating in time with his pathetic heart as he steals glances at Alec, and wonders when exactly he turned into a man without Theo realizing.

"Hey, Alec."

Alec's fingers tap a mile a minute on his legs, his eyes turning to Theo when he speaks. "Yeah?"

"Happy Birthday."

"Oh." Alec's expression shifts into one of surprise, his dimples showing up when he shoots a toothy grin Theo's way. "Thanks."

Something about the expression punches the air from Theo's lungs. He's looked at Alec smiling thousands of times, and yet somehow this feels like the first. His skin is tanned from weeks spent outside, his hair wind tousled and his body relaxed and there is something about him that is magnetic.

"Why did you pick me up?" Alec asks after several minutes of, well not silence with the radio blaring but lag in conversation at least.

"Jason was?—"

"Busy, yeah you said. What's the real reason?"

"What makes you think that's not the real reason?"

"Because mom left me a long voice mail apologizing for her and dad being out of town on my birthday weekend and promised Jason would pick me up and take me to dinner. She said it was already arranged."

"Would you rather Jason had picked you up?"

"Nah, Jason won't let me put my feet on the dash of his stupid baby. He also has shitty taste in music but that's besides the point. You didn't answer my question."

"Speaking of questions, why are you home ten days early?" Theo counters, desperately trying to change the subject. Just because he is a good liar doesn't mean he enjoys it.

To his surprise this makes Alec shift in his seat. There's an air of something unfamiliar and Theo doesn't like it.

"You don't have to tell me," Theo reminds him.

"I was homesick," Alec admits, his voice quieter than Theo has ever heard it. "I'd planned on being home for a week in between training camp and Mexico but then Antonio changed his flight and begged me to change mine too and I couldn't say no when he needed me you know? But then it meant I didn't get to come home, and I've never been away for two months and—" Alec trails off in gust of breath, deflating against the seat like a balloon with a hole.

"You missed your family," Theo finishes.

Alec plucks at the fabric of his sweats where it's bunched around his knee. "That was part of it."

"There's nothing wrong with being homesick you know," Theo says, eyes darting between the road and Alec. Judging by the look on Alec's face there's something else going on. "It could be a lot to be around someone newly engaged too."

The lines of Alec's face, normally relaxed and happy, knit together. It's clear Theo hit close with his guess and equally clear Alec doesn't want to talk about it.

"So why did you pick me up anyway?" Alec questions. "Did you lose a bet?"

Despite the way Alec laughs, the juxtaposition in his drop in confidence is sharp. It makes Theo's chest clench uncomfortably. It's not exactly a new feeling to want to protect Alec. Back when he'd come out as gay in fourth grade, he and Jason had made a point to drop him off and pick him up every day in their football jerseys. No one had actually given him any shit for being gay, but he and Jason weren't gonna give anyone any chances. The protectiveness he'd felt then had been the kind you have for a little kid you want to shield before the world has a chance to dull their spirit.

Alec is anything but a little kid now, but Theo sees the same flicker of unease he saw ten years ago. The difference is that this time Theo isn't some cool high school football player anymore. He can't rock up in a sports jersey and Jason's muscle car and magically fix things just by being there. He can't do much of anything except offer Alec a distraction.

"You act like I can't just have missed you." Judging by the expression on Alec's face it's clear he's going to need to offer more. "Jason was actually busy, but I also wanted to spend time with you."

It's not a total lie. It's adjacent enough to the truth that Theo doesn't feel too guilty.

"You never spend time with me," Alec points out and Theo isn't sure if he wants to laugh or scream. If there's one thing you can always count on for Alec it's that he doesn't make things easy. He calls you on your bullshit every time, never lets you get away with anything. Usually this is directed towards Jason or the twins. Apparently Theo has made himself fair game.

"Of course I do. I've known you your entire life."

Saying it out loud is strange but true. He and Jason had become instant best friends in first grade when Jason had realized Theo's lunch box was sometimes empty, and started sharing half of his turkey sandwich and fruit snacks. The following year, Jason's mom had been pregnant with Alec and while he hadn't understood or even liked babies, he'd been around to see Alec grow from a noisy wrinkled baby into an energetic toddler to a headstrong preteen into, well, now a man. It's strange to realize he's been around for Alec's entire life, knows his childhood secrets and yet in other ways he hardly knows him.

"Name the last time we hung out," Alec demands, crossing his arms and fixing his gaze on Theo. There's nothing sharp in his tone, but the challenge is clear.

"We hang out all the time," Theo tries, racking his brain for the last time. "Right before you left for training. Charlie and Andrew's birthday."

"No I meant us, without someone else."

Theo opens his mouth then closes it. He tries to think of even one occasion where he was around Alec without it being because of Jason or his family but can't.

"I was nine," Alec says. "I'd gotten a new soccer ball for Christmas and wanted to play with you and Jason so badly but Jason wanted to go see his girlfriend. He told me maybe tomorrow but you looked at me and grabbed the ball and took me in the backyard. You were wearing that same brown hoodie you wore every day, and your hair was longer than it is now—almost to your shoulders. We played for hours until mom had to drag us inside because dinner was ready. When Jason got back you guys went up to his room to play video games."

"I forgot about that," Theo admits. "That was twelve years ago. How do you even remember that much about it?"

Alec is quieter than normal and an unfamiliar feeling builds in Theo's gut. Alec is rarely quiet.

"Hey look there's a taco truck down that road," Alec announces. "Pull over."

"There's not even a line, how do you know if it's good?" Theo asks, already switching on his turn signal. He tries to look for a name so he might be able to look up the menu online or any reviews, but sees nothing as he parks on an unfamiliar side street.

"You don't know if it's any good until you try it," Alec replies.

He has a point, but Theo is not quite as adventurous an eater as Alec. Partly because of his own taste buds, but also because growing up below the poverty line meant there was never enough money to waste on food he might not like. He's got enough disposable income to cover eating out now, and Jason is paying for dinner tonight, but old habits are hard to break. The thought makes him frown. He's not twelve anymore, rationing out cereal into baggies to make sure it lasted the entire week in case his dad didn't get paid. He's a grown up with a stable income and he can try a new food truck. Besides, it's Alec's birthday and if he wants tacos then he should get them, Theo's stupid issues aside.

"Alright, just let me try and look it up first and?—"

"No way," Alec interrupts, stealing Theo's phone from the center console and shoving it into the pocket of his sweats. "We are going in blind. This is my last free weekend before the school nutritionist starts monitoring every damn micro nutrient I ingest, and going on and on about how vital it is I hit my protein goals as the only vegetarian on the team. We're going on a culinary adventure."

There's very little about approaching an unmarked food truck in an empty alley that feels like an adventure to Theo, but considering he puts in free time in his calendar he's probably not the right person to judge.

"Sure." Theo tries to smile but it feels more like a grimace.

"I'm sure whatever we get they can make without onions." Alec pats his leg. "Come on big guy."

"How do you know I hate onions?"

Alec looks at him like he's stupid which Theo is starting to feel.

"I do pay attention to things besides soccer you know," Alec snorts, poking him in the side with one of his bony fingers when Theo makes no move to open his door. "Come on, Theo, live a little."

"Stop poking me and I'll come."

"Yes, sir," Alec crows, opening his door. He's out of the car and using the hood as drums before Theo's finished opening his own door. He smiles at Theo, the wind ruffling his hair as he watches Theo approach. Behind him the sky turns orange, streaks of white clouds painting a picture. Alec shakes the curls from his face, the lines of his body sharp against the softening sky, and Theo has the sudden urge to take his picture.

A thought occurs to Theo, unbidden and confusing. Alexander King is beautiful.

"Are you ready?" Alec asks, blissfully unaware of Theo's racing thoughts.

Behind him the sky darkens, orange turning red. Something has changed.

"Ready," Theo lies, anything but.

"Do you want another taco?"

Theo shakes his head, pushing his paper plate away from him before reaching for his Topo-Chico and taking a drink. The carbonation burns in the best way possible, soothing the edges of Theo's nerves. He hates how he can be anxious like this even when he's having a good time.

"I don't think I can eat another bite," Theo admits, unsure how Alec even finished his second round. Then again maybe bean tacos are less filling than carnitas.

"I feel like I could do another one," Alec muses.

The plastic creaks as he leans back in his chair, slipping his hand under the hem of his cotton shirt. The sun has set now, the flickering light from the street lamp above them illuminating the many freckles that dot Alec's high cheekbones. There's an undeniable physicality to his body and the way he moves, but his features are delicate—sharp cheekbones, long lashes and full lips. Have his lips always been that full?

"How can you possibly fit any more food in there? You ate nine tacos and a side of chips and guacamole."

"I'm still a growing boy," Alec proclaims, patting his exposed belly. It's supposed to be a joke but the way he rubs his palm over his stomach draws Theo's eyes to the insanity of Alec's body—his stomach flat and muscled with visible abs, and a soft trail of light brown hair leading from under his belly button and down beneath the waistband of his sweats.

Theo gulps the rest of his drink so fast it burns.

Staring at Alec it's easy to forget himself and the reasons they're really here. He's supposed to be distracting Alec for the surprise party awaiting him. He's not supposed to be indulging in wayward thoughts. Then again Jason did tell him to keep Alec occupied, there's no reason they can't enjoy the time until then.

"You know what, I changed my mind. I don't want more tacos," Alec announces. "I want dessert. We should stop and get a cake or something. It is my birthday."

"That it is," Theo agrees.

"So you admit I should get whatever I want," Alec says, tipping forward. His shirt falls down covering his tummy and he leans his elbows on the plastic folding table, eyes alight with mischief. "We could go somewhere else? I'm legal for a club now."

He waggles his eyebrows in a way that's so ridiculous Theo can't even focus on the fact that Alec is suggesting they go to a club.

"I'm sure there are more exciting things you'd like to do on your birthday than hang out with your brother's boring best friend."

"You're not boring," Alec says, nose wrinkled.

He says it so seriously, as if Theo even suggesting it is offensive to him. Theo can't imagine why.

"We could probably get a cake or—" but he pauses, his phone buzzing. He flips it over, angling it so Alec can't see the message just in case.

Jason : party is a go

Theo looks up in time to see Alec avert his gaze, clearly trying to pretend he wasn't staring. He sips his coke, the line of his throat exposed.

Being alone with Alec is unexpectedly easy and Theo is loath to have it end. He reminds himself that he's being selfish, that Alec would definitely rather be at a party full of his siblings and friends if he knew it was waiting for them.

Theo : be there in thirty minutes

Once he's texted Jason he pockets his phone and returns his attention to Alec. This time he doesn't pretend not to stare, and an unfamiliar weight settles on his chest. No one has ever looked at him with such unmasked intensity, and the well-crafted excuses Theo mentally rehearsed all night fly out the window as he ends up giving the world's most obvious lie.

"I'm kinda tired. I should probably get you home."

He expects a protest or maybe a plea to stop for dessert on the way, already mentally planning a second text to Jason to explain the delay when Alec stands.

"Alright then, let's go."

Somehow Theo had expected Alec to protest, even hoped for it, which makes no sense at all. Alec agreeing to head back to the party awaiting him is exactly what Theo needed to happen, so he's not sure why he doesn't feel any relief.

Alec stands collecting both of their trash before tossing it in the bin near the food truck before making his way back to Theo's car. All the while he's strangely subdued, offering no witty quips at Theo for staring, or dramatic requests for his birthday cake. It's a side of Alec that Theo has never seen before.

"You coming, Theo?"

Theo breathes deeply, eyes stuck on the empty folding table where ten minutes prior Alec's presence had dominated. Now it's dulled into something that makes Theo's stomach twist uncomfortably, and he has no idea what that means.

"Coming."