A Little Side of Geek

by Marguerite Labbe

  Morris pointed at the much-abused scrap of paper covered in buffalo sauce fingerprints on the counter. “Feel free to copy it if you can read it.”

  Jackie picked it up and scanned it quickly as she absently reached for another roll-up. This was going even better than Morris had dreamed. Dakota could now be the problem child of the group.

  Morris punched Felipe lightly on the arm. “All of this is not because of Theo other than I asked him for help. All of this is because you wouldn’t stop ragging on me. I wanted to enjoy my games tonight instead of hiding in the corner in shame.”

  “Oh, ye of fragile egos,” Felipe said with a shake of his head.

  “Speaking of games….” Dakota cleared the stack from the table as Lincoln opened up the remaining box. “Who’s in for a game of Munchkin before Brett and Daphne arrive? I want to check out Lincoln’s Cthulhu expansion.”

  “I’ve never seen that one.” Jackie grabbed a beer and carried her loaded plate to the table. “There aren’t any cards that are going to make me sing, are there?”

  “Only if the stars are aligned right… or wrong, depending on how you feel about it,” Lincoln said as he laid out cards. “I don’t think there are, but it’s been a while since I played this edition.”

  “Hey, Felipe, grab my dice,” Morris said as he searched for a serving spoon for the dip. “I have some new giant ten-siders we can use for level counters.”

  “And I thought Dakota had a dice problem.” Felipe disappeared down the hallway to the game closet, but Morris could still hear his voice. “You have more dice than you can possibly ever use.”

  “It’s really sad you can’t understand. Aren’t you supposed to be a gamer? Besides, it’s not my fault.” Morris filled a plate as his stomach started rumbling. All he’d had to eat were nibbles and bits he’d tasted as he cooked and a few maimed eggs. “Cassie keeps stealing them and chasing them under my washer and dryer.”

  “Blaming your cat,” Felipe said, returning with Morris’s empty cheese ball tub of dice. It was nearly two-thirds full and weighed as much as a small child. He really did need to find another home for his dice, maybe several. He could split them up into categories. “Now, that’s really sad, man.”

  “Hey, some of those dice are classics. You’ll never find them again,” Dakota said as Felipe handed the tub to Morris. “I’ve started a new group, Polyhedron Anonymous. Morris and I are the founders.”

  “Respect.” Morris bumped his fist against Dakota’s, then pulled out the bag sitting in the top of his tub. “Check these out.” He poured out half a dozen jewel-toned dice each about the size of an egg.

  “Okay, that’s cool,” Lincoln said, picking up a royal-purple one. “Where did you get those?”

  “Trask from the Magick Den was selling them at the last con.” Morris selected the hunter-green one. “I’ve been waiting for a chance to use them ever since.”

  “Speaking of Trask….” Felipe turned a chair around and straddled it, taking the seat opposite from Dakota. “Did I mention if we play our cards right we might be able to talk him into being our new gamemaster? I’ve been dying to play again.”

  “Richmond’s kinda far from here, don’t you think?” Dakota asked as he dealt out the cards. “Our schedules are crazy enough as it is.”

  “Not really, when you consider how little we get together.” Morris looked at his cards and shook his head. A cultist, figures, but at least he had some cards he could start with. “Going down to Richmond once every six weeks or so is manageable, especially if he’s any good. Besides, we’re already in Richmond for shows several times a year. Maybe we can schedule games around that?”

  He agreed with Felipe. It had been way too long since they last played.

  “What made you pick Trask?” Dakota asked. “He’s not the most sociable guy.”

  “Felipe wants to—” Morris cut off what he was going to say after a quick glance at Lincoln. “Umm, ask him out on a date. He thinks he’s hot.”

  Dakota cut Felipe a searching glance, but the other man ignored him. Felipe was the king of compartmentalizing. “He is hot, I’ll agree. I’ve listened in on some of the games he’s run at shows and his shop. I think we’d mesh with him.”

  “Is he even looking for a group?” Jackie asked. “If he runs a store, I’m sure he’s not hurting for finding players. Hey, how are we deciding who goes first? I’m not playing rock paper scissors with you guys again. Bunch of cheaters.”

  “Rolling for it.” Dakota grabbed his level counter die and let it bounce across the table. “Fuck, a two, lowest goes first?”

  “No,” Felipe scoffed as he rolled as well and smirked at Dakota as it landed on an eight. “You’re going down, buddy.”

  “Oh it’s on.” Dakota smirked right back, then leaned over. “Forgiven?”

  “Just as long as you keep your flirting ways to yourself.” Felipe gave him an airy wave. “I think Trask would be open to the idea of having a group. Especially since we all know each other, sorta. I talked with him a bit at the last show. He’s not really running with any other group right now, more overseeing the groups that come to his store. I’ll hit him up again at the next con and see if I can get him to nibble on the idea.”

  “Ha. I’ve got a ten. Beat that,” Lincoln crowed.

  “Watch and learn youngling, watch and learn.” Morris shook his head as he got a seven. “Never mind.”

  “Go ahead.” Jackie waved to Lincoln. “You brought the cards and you’re the newbie. What are you going to do first?”

  “Kick in the door,” Lincoln replied, reaching for the door deck with a happy smile. “Come on, give me something good.”

  Chapter Seventeen

  THEO TOOK one last check around the restaurant to be sure it was spotless and ready for the prep crew in the morning. His body ached, but that was secondary to the worries buzzing in his mind. Jill would be fine. She was having a baby. Women had babies all the time. She trusted her doctor, which was no small feat considering she didn’t trust many.

  He just wished she hadn’t scared him so damn bad at the start of the dinner rush.

  At least she was home resting, though Theo didn’t envy Craig at all. Being confined to bed rest for the next couple of months was going to make her absolutely mental. Rest and de-stress, that was the key, though that was going to be difficult to manage. Theo would have to find some way to let her help, or she’d drive them all crazy. Maybe he could send her the books or have her coordinate food orders, tasks she could do sitting down because he knew she wouldn’t stay in bed as ordered. Not after the initial scare passed.

  He pulled out his phone, but there were no new texts from his brother-in-law. Unfortunately, there were none from Lincoln either. Theo had left several messages on his phone. He’d called the house, too, with no answer. Lincoln was probably holed up in his room, headphones on as he played his games, oblivious to the rest of the world on his night off.

  Telling himself that did not help the anxiety clawing at him as he remembered another night when his mom didn’t answer her phone and they’d all reassured themselves she was getting much-needed rest.

  How wrong they’d been.

  Why couldn’t Lincoln have called back instead of Dustin? That conversation still made his blood pressure rise, only to be followed with more guilt. It was the first time he’d spoken to his brother in a year. Theo missed him. And the first thing they’d done was go for each other’s throats. Theo pushed those thoughts aside before he worked himself up even more than he already had.

  He tried Lincoln’s cell and the house again, with no luck. He briefly considered calling Morris and then told himself to stop being ridiculous. Morris was entertaining friends. He didn’t need Theo interrupting to check on Lincoln because he was being an overprotective, neurotic brother. Lincoln wouldn’t appreciate it. Morris wouldn’t appreciate it. Besides, it was a fifteen-minute drive home.

  Theo locked up and made his way across the deserted parking lot to his c
ar. He stretched, working out the kinks in his shoulders and back. Nothing seemed to relax the tension in them. He rolled down the window to let the summer air flow over him as he headed home. The radio was on, but he barely heard anything as he tapped his fingers on the steering wheel.

  It would be okay. He’d get there, address the issue of Lincoln not checking his phone, and break the news about Jill gently after he’d assured him Jill was okay. Lincoln would fuss and worry, probably insist on calling her first thing in the morning, and then want to spend a couple days there. Which might not be a bad thing. Lincoln was more of a mother hen than any of them. He’d see for himself Jill was fine.

  The trees parted, their house came into view, and Theo’s heart jumped with a hard beat of panic. The upper part of the house was dark, not one light shining. Lincoln liked to leave at least the kitchen light on when he was home alone. More than one time, Theo had returned to find every light blazing.

  Maybe he passed out early. He’d been working so hard. If he fell asleep before the sun set, he wouldn’t have thought to turn on any lights. Theo pulled into their driveway and noted the other cars still there. Looked like Morris’s game night was still happening. If he didn’t have a little brother to chew out, Theo would check in and see how it was going, but there was a long talk coming between him and Lincoln. Dammit, he knew how Theo felt about having a phone on hand in case of emergencies.

  Theo climbed up the walkway, his pulse thudding. The front door was unlocked, and his heart jumped again, harder this time, as his throat tightened. That wasn’t like Lincoln. He was a freak about locking the doors after seeing one too many crime shows.

  Theo opened the door and flipped on the living room lights. “Lincoln?”

  The house was quiet, and the door to Lincoln’s bedroom dark, and Theo’s heart climbed into his throat. “Lincoln!” Theo called out a little more forcefully as he went down the hallway and opened the bedroom door. The room was empty, the computer off. Theo touched the back of his computer and game systems, but they were cold as if they hadn’t been on for a while.

  Sick to his stomach, Theo yanked out his phone as he searched the rest of his house. There was no note or any indication Lincoln had been there at all. He tried Lincoln’s cell phone again and heard it ringing in the living room.

  Theo pressed his lips together, his hands clenching and unclenching, as he tried to will himself to calm down. When he got his hands on Lincoln Michael Boarman, he was going to scare some sense into him.

  Taking a deep breath, Theo debated calling his brother-in-law. He did not want to get Jill stirred up, but it was after midnight. If Lincoln had gone to a friend’s house he would’ve called, even if he left his phone behind. But he might’ve forgotten if he had decided to bike over to Jill’s. He wouldn’t have thought twice about them not being at home and when they did arrive, straight from the hospital, Theo could see how checking in with him would’ve been the last thing on their minds.

  As logical as it sounded in his head, the sick sensation gripping his insides wouldn’t let go. He called Craig, pacing as he waited for an answer.

  “Theo, what’s wrong?” Craig’s sleepy voice answered.

  “Quiet, don’t wake up Jill. I hate to disturb you, but you didn’t by any chance pick up Lincoln after you got back from the hospital, did you? Or maybe he biked over?” Theo fisted his hand in his hair, a sense of acute failure hitting him. It was after midnight. He should know where his own brother was.

  “No.” Craig’s voice sharpened, and the fear Theo had been holding back clawed its way up to his throat again. “When did you last hear from him?”

  “When I went to work after lunch. I’ve been trying to get ahold of him ever since you and Jill left for the hospital.” Theo drew in a steadying breath. This was not happening. “Let me call his friend’s house, and I’ll ask my neighbor if he’s seen him. I’ll get back to you in ten minutes.”

  “Okay, I’ll check Jill’s phone in case he texted her earlier.”

  His stomach churning, Theo called Lincoln’s closest friends, trying not to feel like an abject failure. His brother was only fifteen. Theo should fucking know where he was. Finally, he hung up in defeat. None of them had heard from him either.

  Anxiety ate at him as he headed back outside. The thought of calling the police and reporting him missing…. He couldn’t go through this again. None of them could. It was too much. Lurking behind the terrible memories was the underlying worry the authorities might consider him unfit to care for Lincoln. That was a fight Theo never wanted on his hands. And Dustin would feed right into it if he heard. He’d been against Theo taking Lincoln from the start.

  He heard voices and car doors opening as he went down the outside steps and walked around to the driveway. The party looked as if it was breaking up. There were a couple people Theo didn’t recognize getting into their cars as Theo cut around to Morris’s entrance. He didn’t acknowledge them, too caught up in trying to figure out what to do if Morris hadn’t seen his brother either. Morris stood in the doorway, and his smile widened when he saw Theo.

  “Hey.” The smile fell away, replaced by a look of concern. “What’s wrong?”

  The expression on his face, the obvious care in his voice almost did Theo in right there. His throat tightened and his eyes stung. “Have you—” Theo started to say and then Morris opened the door and turned his body to let Theo in. There was Lincoln, laughing at something as he carried a stack of games out of sight down the hall.

  Thank God. Oh sweet Jesus.

  Relief swept through Theo, making his knees wobbly. Lincoln was safe. He’d been here the entire time.

  That little fucker.

  Then a rush of fury steadied his legs again. Lincoln had been here the entire time, unaware that Theo had been frantically trying to get a hold of him. Oblivious to the fact that their brother-in-law had been dragged in when he didn’t need the extra stress. He’d been here playing games while Theo had been making himself sick with fear. He hadn’t thought once, Hey where’s my phone, maybe I should check in, maybe someone will worry.

  “You!” Theo pointed a shaking finger at Lincoln as he came back into view. “Get your scrawny ass upstairs.”

  Lincoln whirled around, his eyes widening as his cheeks reddened. His eyes darted around the room, and his cheeks darkened further when he saw Felipe watching. “Theo?”

  Morris frowned and laid a placating hand on Theo’s arm. “What’s wrong? He wasn’t intruding. I invited him.”

  “Don’t,” Theo cut in before Morris could offer more excuses and shrugged off his hand with a sharp glare. “I can’t even right now… just don’t.” He tried to calm down, knowing he wasn’t making sense, and he had to make sense to Lincoln. “I’m serious, Lincoln,” he said in a calmer voice, though the hard edge remained. “Get upstairs now. We have a lot to discuss.”

  Lincoln’s face set in stiff lines, and he grabbed a box with a jerky motion, hugging it to his chest. He opened his mouth as if he wanted to argue, but after a quick glance at a curious Felipe, a worried Morris, and a pissed Theo, he pressed his lips together and stalked past Theo out the door.

  Theo shot Morris a fulminating look and the other man stared back, his brows drawn together, looking at him as if he didn’t know who he was. Fuck this. Theo didn’t need it. He turned his back without a word and followed Lincoln up to their place.

  Lincoln jerked open the front door and turned on Theo. “You are an asshole!”

  “I’m the asshole? After the stunt you pulled? I don’t think so.” Theo pushed past him and grabbed Lincoln’s phone off the coffee table, where he’d left it under a comic. He didn’t want to manipulate Lincoln and twist him up with guilt by mentioning Jill right away. He wanted to keep the focus on Lincoln’s inaccessibility first. Jill was okay, but Lincoln would go to pieces when he heard, and Theo wouldn’t get through to him at all until he calmed down.

  “I’ve been trying to get a hold of you all fucking night. Craig h
as been trying to get a hold of you, but we couldn’t because you didn’t bother to have your phone on you. That’s the first problem.”

  Lincoln flushed, reached for the phone, and winced as he saw the list of missed calls and messages. “I don’t see what the big deal is,” he muttered, shooting Theo an angry, sidelong glance. “I was right downstairs.”

  “The big deal is I didn’t know where you were and it’s after midnight, which is your damned curfew unless you clear it with Jill or me first. And as you can see from the number of messages, we needed to get a hold of you.” Theo caught Lincoln’s gaze and held it as Lincoln’s flush deepened. “Second issue. I don’t have a problem with you hanging out with Morris playing games, but you have to let me know first. A note, even a goddamned note left on the counter would’ve been nice. And since you didn’t and you scared the fuck out of me and Craig, you’re fucking grounded and by grounding I mean your games.”

  “You can’t ground me!” Lincoln stared at Theo in utter shock, his eyes round and mouth gaping open like a landed fish.

  “Like hell I can’t,” Theo retorted. He quickly texted Craig to let him know he’d found Lincoln before the argument went any further. “In case you’ve forgotten, I’m your guardian, which means you have to live by my rules. And you’ve broken two of them in one go. There are consequences.”

  “I’m going to Zack’s house.” Lincoln gave Theo a look that dared him to push it. “You can’t stop me. You’re not my dad.” That last was said with a sneering stab.

  “If you take one step outside that door, I’m locking up your game systems for the rest of the summer,” Theo said in a cold, quiet voice as a fist squeezed around his heart. “And don’t even think Jill won’t back me on this.”

  Lincoln whirled around. “You can’t do that!”

  “Try me.” This was a place he never wanted to be at with Lincoln, but he knew if he let Lincoln walk out so defiant, he didn’t have a chance in hell of ever regaining a sense of discipline and boundaries with him again.