Page 16 of Totally Geeked

I lean on the post by the stairs.

“And here I was thinking you did so well because I was sitting cross-legged with the kids on the carpet.”

He smiles, and it’s the first time since I walked over that he relaxes even a little.

“You helped.”

“And I’ll be there to help again today. Do you want me to sit at the front? I can push all those niblets back and sit right at your feet, then every time you look down to turn a page, I can be there smiling up at you. Here, like this.” I step forward, drop onto my ass then cross my legs and hold my knees with my hands, look up, and grin as wide as I can.

He laughs, and his shoulders relax.

“You would actually do that, wouldn't you?”

I shrug. “Sure, why not?”

“Umm, because it’s a children's book reading.”

“That has an amazing drawing of yours truly in it.”

“Can’t argue with that. Oh, I found those sketches I told you about. The ones of you, did you want to see?”

“Hell yes.”

He blushes slightly before turning away and heading inside. I quickly follow him in.

“This one is my favorite… one of my favorites,” he says, handing me a piece of thick art paper. I know what game it is immediately. I’ve only done that move once. I caught the ball and kicked up my feet into a sort of handstand. I still have no idea how I landed without falling on my ass or how I managed to send the ball right back into Gordon’s glove. I guess I was just really on that day.

“This is amazing.”

“What’s amazing?” Gordon asks, walking down the stairs to his living room.

“Your brother’s sketches,” I say, turning the page to show him.

“The ones of me are better.”

“Are not.”

“Did you get put on the cover of a book?”

“He had to start with you because you’re his brother. If they like looking at your head, then we’ve got hope for the rest of the team’s books to be a smashing success.”

“Funny, dickhead. Thanks for taking him. Noah is back at school, and…well, he’s going through hisfreecollege stage. You know the one.”

I laugh because I do know it. I was as free as you could get in college, shit, most of my life after it, too.

Arlo takes the drawing from my hands and slips it back into a notebook.

“I’ll just grab an extra shirt, just in case,” he says and jogs up the stairs.

Gordon watches him go and, when he’s out of sight, walks right up to my face.

“You know I love you like a brother, but that guy thereismy brother, and if you try…”

“Okay, I’m going to stop you right there. Do you really think I’m doing this to try to hook up with your brother?”

He sighs. “No. I mean, maybe, a little.”

“Fuck you. I’m being a nice guy here. Besides, you’d be proud of me.”

---