Page 45 of Totally Geeked

I take off the hat and sunglasses and stand tall behind the other parents. Like a magnet, his gaze is drawn right to me, and the relief that spreads across his face has my chest filling up like a balloon.

His eyes glass over a little like he wants to cry, but he holds it back, and when I smile and mouth,you’ve got this, he nods, takes a breath, and starts over.

He reintroduces the book, his voice clear, so much surer, like it has been every other time he’s read. At first, he’s reading to me, like always, but after the second page, he moves his attention to the kids, and it’s like it should be. Like I’m not even here. I slip the hat and shades back on and slink down a little, not so much that if he needs me he wouldn't be able to spot me, but far enough that I don’t draw attention being the biggest guy in the small space. He sails through the rest of the reading, not even checking for me once, and when they invite the children up to get pictures and their copies signed, he smiles and nods my way, mouthingthank you,and I slip out.

Only as I am trying to get to my truck still incognito, I bump into someone.

“Sorry,” I say, trying not to meet their gaze and be recognized, but they grab my arm.

“Harry?”

Fuck, why is Gordon here?

“I thought that was you. What are you doing?”

“I wanted to, umm…catch the last reading. You know, as a…a good luck thing for today. I’ve been to all the other ones. I thought maybe if I didn’t come then it would jinx us, him, jinx him, or something,” I say, hopeful he believes my lie. He’s wearing a fishing hat over his bright red hair, and it hits me.

“Wait, why are you here?”

He releases his grip on me and links our arms, pulling me toward the parking lot across the way.

“I meant to go to one sooner, but with the business and training, I never got there. Dad would roll over in his grave if I missed them all,” he whispers. “This was the last one. I had to come.”

“Did Arlo know you were coming?” I ask, and he nods.

“I told him this morning I was going to come incognito. You know, avoid getting spotted out here and be in the shit with the coaches.”

“That’s why I’m like this,” I say, gesturing to my hat and shades.

He laughs. “Dude, I knew it was you from the back the second I saw you.”

“Yeah, but you’ve been checking out my ass for years.”

“Have not. I’m straight remember.”

“You keep telling yourself that. When was the last time you dated?”

“Actually, there is this woman from work.”

“From your business?”

“Yep.”

“Is that a good idea? You know, like isn't it improper for a boss to date their employees or something?” I ask, reaching his car. He shakes his head.

“She’s a DJ. Actually, she’s one half of a DJ team, DJ Doublemix.”

“You know you can’t hire them again if you date her right?”

“Fuck off, I can use whoever I want in my bookings. I just have to make sure the client knows I’m dating the DJ and give them the choice to use someone else if they want.”

“Sounds like you have this all figured out. How serious is this?”

“We’ve been dating over a month now, so pretty serious.”

“A month? Why didn’t you say something sooner?”

“It was new, and I wasn’t sure how serious I was about it all.”

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