Page 9 of Totally Geeked

“I was going to call a cab.”

“If you really want to call a cab, you can but…”

My stomach does this flippy thing, and before I realize what I’m doing, I’m agreeing to a lift. “No, I mean, yes. A ride would be good. Thanks.”

“Wonderful, my truck’s out front, ready when you are.”

“Coffee first. Do you want one?”

“Sure, why not.”

I head into the kitchen and place the book on the corner of the counter while I switch on Gordon’s pod machine and grab us some travel cups.

Harrison takes a seat at the end of the island and fingers through the book until he gets to the last page.

“I still can’t believe I'm in a book. My sister’s kids are going to love this. Did you say you sketched these, too?”

“Yeah. I did way more than I needed.”

“So you have other sketches of me, can I see them?”

My cheeks burn, and I turn back to the pod machine, praying that by the time the coffee is pulled, they would have cooled down.

“Umm, I can have a look for them. Once we decided on the ones we wanted in the book, I put the rest in a folder somewhere.”

I’m lying. I have them strewn all over my apartment, my original drawing of Gordon is framed on the wall in my study, and I can off the top of my head remember where at least three sketches of Harrison are. He’s the catcher for the team, so he’s in more than most of the others, besides Gordon. He did this thing at a game where he flipped up onto one hand, with the ball inhis other, clapping his cleats together in the air before coming down, and it killed me that it just didn't fit anywhere in this story because it is one of my favorite sketches.

Maybe the sequel to Gordie Goes Bananas can be about a catcher? My contract with the publisher sets out that they get first option on any sequels, but with how amazing they have been with book one, I’m not even thinking of going anywhere else.

“I’d love to see them if you find them,” he says, turning his attention back to the book.

“I’ll see what I can do.”

We jump into his Honda SUV and head toward the city.

“Have you always been nervous to speak in front of other people?” Harrison asks, without taking his eyes off the road.

“I guess. I mean, I never liked being the center of attention and growing up with Gordon and Noah, that was never really a problem, because good luck getting seen with those two around.”

I realize how it sounds the second the words are out of my mouth.

“I know that’s true for Gordon. I’m not sure about Noah, though, I only met him last night, but he definitely…makes an impression.”

“Yeah, sorry about him hitting on you, he’s kind of a flirt.”

“Oh, hunny, don’t apologize. We can all stand to be flirted with a little more. Does wonderful things for the ego.”

I take a sip of my coffee, and he goes over a bump in the road, and coffee dribbles down my chin and onto my shirt.

“Shit.”

“Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t see the hole.”

“It’s fine,” I say, wiping down my front. Why did I think a light blue shirt was the best option to wear today?

“We’re almost there. Maybe we can grab you another shirt from a shop nearby?”

“I don’t think there is a lot open this early on a Saturday. It’s okay. I’ll hold the book up high to cover it.”

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