Page 20 of Totally Geeked

“I’m in the shower, one sec,” I call back, scrambling to wrap the towel around my waist and open the door. He’s walking toward the bed, and there on top, beside thecleanversion of my sketch, is the naughty one. “Don’t look at those,” I say, running and grabbing the blanket to flip over the sketchbooks.

“Huh?”

“They’re not done yet,” I lie, and he shakes his head.

“Your sketches are amazing at any stage. Let me see, are they for the new book?”

I jump on top of the bed, and my towel flips up flashing him.

“Dude, come on,” he complains, turning away.

“Don’t want to see me naked, don’t come into my room uninvited.”

“What are we twelve?” he asks, and I have to laugh.

“They’re for a new project. I’m just not ready to show anyone yet.”

“Okay, just say that then. No need to get your bat and balls involved.”

I try to suppress my smile, he has no idea how very involved my bat and balls were with what is under the covers right now.

“Something new, huh? Are you done with children’s books already?”

“No, I love writing those stories, but I guess I used to write other stuff in college, too.”

“Right, you had that romance book, the one with the fireman and the vet. It was awesome.”

“You read that?”

“Yeah, you sent it to me, remember? What were their names?” He looks off to the side like that will help him remember. To be honest, I’m fucking really shocked he remembers them at all. Or that he read it. I sent the chapters after a few drinks, and as a guy who does not drink, like ever, it only took three, and I was emailing both my brothers my new story.

“Vaughn and Arthur, no Arnold. That was them, right?”

“Shit, you do remember.”

“Of course. I really liked that story. Why didn’t you look at finding a publisher for that one? It was pretty hot if I remember correctly.”

What the hell?

I’m sure I didn’t send him the whole book so how would he know it got hot?

“Umm, I only sent you the first chapters, didn’t I?”

“No, you shared the file. I remember ’cause I would open it up like every Sunday night to read what you wrote next. It was great, like waiting for your next episode of a television show.”

I try to breathe but a lump has risen in my throat stopping all air. No. This can’t be happening. He can’t have read that story. Not the whole story. My face is burning hot, and my heart is pounding in my ears.

“Just kidding.” He laughs. “I have no idea how hot it got, or if it got hot at all. I only read the first two chapters you sent. It was good from what I remember though.”

That prick. Fuck. I know exactly how hot and steamy some of those chapters were, and I don’t want my brother to know what a…detailed imagination I really have.

“You asshole.”

“Come on, it was funny. So is the new story going to be hot, is that why you’re all nervous?”

I throw my pillow at him.

“It’s nothing yet, a pet project. Why are you here again?”

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