Page 79 of Seal the Deal
“Then they’re yours.” Nicki’s hand moves around, cupping the back of Andrew’s neck in a move that’s becoming oddly grounding. It reminds Andrew of a werewolf romance he read a few months ago, and while he’s sure as shit not a werewolf or submissive, he can’t deny how much he’s soothed by the weight of Nicki’s massive hand at the back of his neck. So much so, he apparently forgets they have an audience.
“He’s touching Andrew,” Jason says in what is probably supposed to be a whisper, but in typical Jason fashion, is actually quite booming. That man can’t do subtle to save his life.
“It’s weird,” Alec confirms.
Suddenly, Andrew is sick. The lies. The illusion of it all. Being watched. None of this is real, and everyone is seeing it, and when it all ends, they’re going to look back and justknow.
“No one is fucking making you watch, nosy fucker,” Nicki barks, positioning himself in front of Andrew like some kind of human shield.
The one person he expects to have a million comments is Charlie, but he is oddly quiet, watching Andrew with intense scrutiny. He tips his mouth down to Eden’s ear, whispering something that has Eden standing just a little taller. Before Andrew can react, Eden is marching himself forward to grab Nicki’s shirt.
“Watch it,” Nicki growls. “This shirt is cashmere.”
“I don’t give a fuck if it was made of gold. You’re coming with me. We need to have a chat.”
“I don’t think?—”
“No thinking, listening,” Eden says, somehow dragging Nicki from the room by the scruff of his shirt.
“He scares me,” Jason murmurs.
“Nicki isn’t really scary,” Andrew points out.
“I wasn’t talking about Nicki,” Jason snorts. “I meant Eden.”
“Sometimes, he scares me, too,” Charlie says, in a way that sounds like he loves it. “Isn’t he amazing?”
“Seeing both of them smitten is kind of weird,” Alec says, but he smiles at Andrew. “But like a good weird. I like seeing you happy, Andrew.”
“Thanks,” Andrew says, imposter syndrome threatening to suffocate him.
“We need to talk, too,” Charlie says, eyes on Andrew.
“Wow, is anyone else hungry?” Alec says. “Maybe we should go get pizza.”
“But we just—oh right, yeah, I’m so hungry,” Theo says.
“I could eat,” Jason adds. “What about you, Emmy?”
Emerson nods. “I could probably eat.”
“Right, we’re going to get out of here, but if you guys need anything, you’ll call.” Alec moves across the room, wrapping Andrew in a bear hug. “I mean it. You might be the oldest, but it doesn’t mean we can’t help. Don’t ignore us next time.”
“Okay,” Andrew croaks, unsure why that makes him want to cry.
“Bye,” Theo says, waving. Emerson waves too, and Jason rubs his hair before squeezing his shoulder and departing with the rest of them, leaving Charlie and Andrew alone.
Mentally preparing himself for a million questions, or for Charlie to be mad at him, he’s taken completely by surprise when all that happens is Charlie pulls him into a firm hug.
“I love you, Annie.”
“What?”
“I love you,” Charlie repeats, holding onto Andrew the same way he did when they were kids—like he was afraid Andrew might one day just disappear. “You’re not just my other half, you're my better half. I hope you know that.”
“I’m not sure what’s happening,” Andrew admits.
“I know I can be a shit brother sometimes,” Charlie says, pulling out of the hug. “After all that stuff with Zach, I realized that sometimes…sometimes I don’t notice things I should.”
