A Little Side of Geek

by Marguerite Labbe

  MORRIS CHECKED the speedometer as they started the steep roll down the Harry Nice Bridge. As impatient as he was to get home and maybe have a chance to swing by the bistro to see Theo, there was almost always a cop down at the end of the bridge, waiting to nab people as they entered Maryland. The last time Morris had been pulled over it was for a burned-out taillight and Felipe had ragged him for days. As they passed the tollbooths on the opposite side of the highway, Morris beeped the horn and waved out the open window.

  “What was that for?” Lincoln asked curiously.

  “Felipe has to work tonight. It’s why he left the show early today.” And bitter about it, no doubt. Felipe usually managed to finagle his way around a show, but it wasn’t always easy to get the shifts he wanted. At this time of year, there was a show every weekend within driving distance. Felipe wanted to attend them all, but Morris was a little choosier when it came to the shows where he bought tables.

  “He runs a tollbooth?”

  “Yeah.” Morris had to smile at the incredulity in Lincoln’s voice. It was hard to imagine Felipe with his endless energy confined to an area that small for hours on end. “It’s not an ideal situation. I’d hate to be his boss.”

  “For real,” Lincoln said with true feeling.

  It had been an excellent day. Morris had made more than he had at the same show last year, which was always a good feeling. His meeting with Brenden had gone well too. Brenden had been happy with the concept art, and they’d discussed tweaks to the Chessie design. Morris would make a nice chunk of change from that, and Brenden would have a whole new platform to run with for the launch of the bigger con. Morris was still a little hesitant on the idea of a bigger con, but Brenden’s enthusiasm was catching. Lincoln had busted his ass, and Brenden was so pleased he’d urged Morris to bring him to other shows.

  “Did you have fun today?” Morris picked up speed once they got past the danger zone. “I barely saw you.”

  “I did, but I think I ran around as much as I do at the restaurant. My legs actually ache.” Lincoln slouched down in his seat and stretched out his legs as far as they could go in the cramped confines of the car. “I thought Brenden and his brother were going to start choking each other out during the setup, though.”

  “Oh?” Morris had missed that altercation, and he was usually attuned to their unique form of entertainment. “What about this time?”

  “I guess Dakota didn’t like where his table was located. He’s scary, to be honest. He’s an all-in-your-face kind of guy. I don’t know how Brenden stands up to him. I was all ready to find a new place for him so he’d calm down.”

  Morris could see how Dakota could be intimidating if you didn’t know him. He tended to gravitate to others with strong wills. He liked the challenge, but he was aware enough to tone it down when needed.

  “Dakota will steamroll you if you let him. Brenden’s more than a match for him, though. I don’t think Brenden’s ever let anyone steamroll him in his life. No need to worry about him. And Dakota’s not the type to take his irritation out on you either.” There were definitely jackasses at the shows who would, but Morris had warned Lincoln all about those.

  “Brenden does need to get better food delivered, though,” Lincoln said thoughtfully. “I heard complaints in the green room from some of his guests.”

  That was something Morris wouldn’t know about. He rarely managed to scrounge food from the green room. He didn’t have the clout at most shows, though he sometimes managed to get some by Brenden if he was feeling generous. “Did you tell him that?”

  “Yeah, I passed it along because I had to agree with the complaints. He didn’t look pleased.”

  Morris thought about that. It was the kind of conundrum that would bug Brenden. He wanted satisfied guests, but he wanted it at his budgeted price. “Maybe Theo can recommend some people in the areas where Brenden does shows. It’s usually a set rotation in the Chesapeake area.”

  “Maybe.” Lincoln fell silent, crossing and uncrossing his arms. He seemed relaxed around Morris most of the time. Which was cool because Morris planned on being around more often and he didn’t want it to be awkward, but he was getting the increasing feeling there was something Lincoln wanted to talk about. Morris wasn’t sure how to address it or if he should ignore it until Lincoln broached the subject.

  Maybe Theo had told him they were getting more serious. That could be worrying for a fifteen-year-old who’d lost his parents and whose sister was about to be distracted with a new little one in her life. He hoped Lincoln wouldn’t cause a fuss over it, but he was prepared for Theo to pull back and slow things down if Lincoln did. Morris had zero doubts about Theo’s commitment to his brother first.

  “Can I tell you something without you telling Theo?” Lincoln asked in a low voice, as if he heard Morris’s thoughts.

  Uh-oh. Morris did not want to go down the road where he started keeping secrets from Theo, especially ones concerning his brother. That would only lead to bad things. “I’m not making any promises,” he said, tugging on his earlobe. “I mean, if you tell me you’re running a meth lab out of your bedroom, I’m sorry, I’ll have to clue him in.”

  “I’ll remember that in case it ever comes up.” Morris heard the faint smile in Lincoln’s previously solemn voice. “It’s not illegal, but you’ll probably end up thinking I’m an asshole.”

  “We’re all assholes sometimes. Just strive not to be an asshole all the time.” Morris cast a look at Lincoln as a smile of bemusement crossed the teen’s face.

  “I think that might be the adult advice of the year.”

  “I do try.” Morris stole another quick glance at Lincoln, then looked back at the road. Once they left the interstate it was one country highway after another, monotonous, but with the constant threat of deer deciding to use the road for leaping practice. “Does it have to do with me and Theo?”

  He really hoped not. This was not ground Morris had any experience crossing. If Lincoln had issues with how fast they were moving, or all the other changes hitting him over this year, Morris didn’t know what he could say that would help.

  “Oh no, you and Theo, that’s cool,” Lincoln said, though there was an odd note in his tone. “Is it serious?”

  Serious enough to make Morris a little nervous. He’d never fallen for a guy this hard. “Yeah, we’re pretty serious.”

  There was a long, thoughtful pause. “Theo’s been happier since he met you. More like how I used to know him before Mom and Dad… you know, and before Dustin and Robin decided to be such jerks.”

  “He makes me happy too.” Morris tapped his fingers on the steering wheel. “I know this last year’s been rough for you all.”

  He caught a shrug out of the corner of his eye as Lincoln stared out the window. He was quiet after that until they turned down the long road toward Calvert County. Morris realized Lincoln had never got around to asking him the question that was bugging him. “So why do you think you’re going to sound like an asshole? You can tell me.”

  There was a pause, and Morris sensed Lincoln’s agonized tension. “Do you think it’s Theo’s fault Dustin and Robin don’t ever come to visit or call anymore?” Lincoln finally asked.

  Morris’s hands tightened on the wheel. Theo didn’t talk about his other siblings often, and when he did, he hadn’t been able to hide the pain and anger in his eyes. He knew Theo felt guilty both for being angry with them and for their distance. He couldn’t see why Theo should feel any guilt at all, but he didn’t know the whole story either. He figured Theo would tell him when he was ready.

  “Well no, but I’m guessing you think there must be something he’s done to have caused it,” Morris finally said in a careful tone. “Why do you think they’re staying away?”

  “He acts like he’s head of the family now. Like he can take Mom and Dad’s place.” Lincoln’s voice tightened as if it was going to break. “It’s infuriating. He’s not them, and he’s never going to be them.”

  Oh
boy, this got deep fast, and Morris couldn’t help but wonder how long Lincoln had been holding on to it. He tapped his fingers again as he tried to gather his thoughts. “He’s trying to feel his way through this new reality too. I don’t think he’s trying to replace them, Linc. Parents aren’t something that can be replaced. But you can’t hold yourself in a stasis either.”

  Lincoln’s snort of scornful disbelief let Morris know what he thought of that, so he tried to go at it from another angle. “After your parents passed, who made the decisions, contacted the insurance company, made the arrangements for the funerals, all of that?”

  “Theo,” Lincoln muttered. “Which proves my point. He dove in and took control.”

  “Did he ask to do it all himself? Did anyone offer to help?” Morris paused and glanced at Lincoln. “Or were you all too shocked and stunned? Not that I’m laying blame, because I think I would’ve been in that state too.” And pathetically grateful for whoever wanted to take charge.

  “Nooooo…. I guess maybe Jill a little, but she was a mess too. Craig was occupied with her or I’m sure he would’ve helped.” Lincoln was noticeably silent about his other siblings.

  “Did something happen between Theo and Robin and Dustin?” Morris asked.

  “There was some kind of an argument after the funeral.” The note of accusation crept back into Lincoln’s voice. “They tried to hide it from me, but I know it happened.”

  Laila had taught him how in tune kids were to the whispers and tensions of adults, especially if it concerned them. Morris wouldn’t be surprised if there had been an argument. That might explain a lot.

  Morris let out a breath he’d been holding on to. Why was Lincoln trusting him with these kinds of life issues? Probably because he was now at that unique point where he wasn’t an outsider any longer, but he wasn’t in the middle of the mess either. It also reassured him more than Lincoln’s words that he accepted Theo and Morris as a couple.

  “You’ve got to let up on him, Linc. He’s doing his best, and you pushing at him the way you do is not helping either one of you. I know you’re mad and scared and nothing feels stable anymore, and you have reason to feel that way, which is why you should be working together, not tearing each other down. You have to talk to him. If you talk to him, he might talk to you.”

  “I don’t understand him,” Lincoln exploded. “He’s so calm and collected all the time. He never gets mad that Mom and Dad left us.” His voice caught, and he angrily dashed a hand over his eyes. “You know he never cried once. Never. Jill cried all the time. He cares more about the restaurant than he does that they died.”

  “That you could see.” Morris’s cool voice cut through Lincoln’s rage.

  “What?”

  Morris would never forget the sound of Theo’s voice when he told him about his parents, or the raw pain on his face. It had broken his heart at the time, and hearing it in Lincoln’s voice too broke it all over again. Theo had cried that night, and Morris had no doubt there were other times when he was alone that he’d allowed himself to break down.

  “He doesn’t let you see it,” Morris said in a gentler tone. “He feels like he’s got to be the strong face for the rest of you. He worries that if he lets you see it, it’ll be harder for you than it is. But I’ve seen it. I’ve seen his anger, and I’ve seen his sorrow. He feels just as deeply as you. He cares about that restaurant in many ways because he feels as if he’s honoring your mom and dad’s legacy and trust by making sure it’s successful and you are looked after.”

  “I never thought of it like that,” Lincoln said in a near whisper.

  “And if you feel like you have to see that side of him, his own sorrow, maybe try reaching out and sharing how you feel instead of the both of you assuming you know how the other feels.”

  Morris got the impression Theo didn’t let many see that side of him. There was more to him than the easygoing face he showed the world, a solid core of steel and a shield for his deeper emotions. Those who were given the chance to see all his sides were few and privileged. Damn, Morris loved that man. He’d really snuck up on him, and Morris was still a little giddy over it.

  He glanced at Lincoln to see if that was sinking in. Lincoln stared out the windshield with a thoughtful expression on his face. “You know, you two are a lot alike in some ways,” Morris continued.

  “Really?” Lincoln looked at him, and his voice was surprised. “How?”

  “You’re both loyal, you’re both passionate. You go out of your way to make things easier for others even if it’s at a cost to yourself. And you’re both stronger than you think.” Morris considered it a bit more as Lincoln mulled that over.

  “If the situation had been reversed and you had been the oldest when your parents passed, I can easily picture you taking charge and taking care of your family.”

  “I’d do anything for them,” Lincoln said, low and fierce.

  “And Theo would do anything for you, don’t ever doubt that, even play hardball, which I think we both discovered.” Morris smiled ruefully. Theo did have a temper. Morris never would’ve guessed it to look at him, but having run up against it twice, he couldn’t deny it.

  Lincoln squirmed in his seat. “Don’t remind me,” he muttered.

  “I can’t speak for Dustin and Robin. I don’t know them or their deal. Maybe they did have a fight with Theo and that’s driving it. But people react in different ways to loss. Some cling harder to loved ones, and I think you, Jill, and Theo fall under that. Others try distancing themselves because they don’t want to feel that kind of pain again. I don’t know if that’s the case with your brother and sister, but it’s something to think about.”

  “Huh.” Lincoln was quiet a little longer, but it seemed to be a thoughtful quiet, and the simmering restlessness had eased. Morris wished he could help more. He wasn’t sure what else he could do.

  “So do you think I’m an asshole?” Lincoln asked after a few minutes.

  “Not in the least bit, buddy, not in the least.” Morris smiled at him, then laughed as Lincoln’s stomach growled. His own panged in response. “We’re almost to the bridge. How do you feel about swinging by the bistro for a late dinner?”

  “I thought you’d never ask.” Lincoln patted his stomach. “You won’t say anything to Theo, will you? About what we talked about?”

  Morris sighed and shot another quick glance at Lincoln. “No, but promise me you’ll talk to him, okay? That’s the only way either of you will resolve this. And I hate feeling like I’m keeping things from him.”

  Lincoln bit his lip and nodded. “Okay, I promise.”

  Morris relaxed. He’d gotten to know Lincoln well enough to be confident he’d do as he promised. The rest of the trip was spent with them bopping to the radio and with Morris’s thoughts centered on Theo.

  When they walked into the bistro, the Sunday crowd was dwindling, Rose greeted them warmly, and the aromas from the kitchen just about knocked Morris off his feet. He glimpsed Theo in the kitchen, his expression intent as he made some final tweaks to the plates in front of him.

  Morris chuckled as he headed toward one of the tables at the bar. The bistro was beginning to feel like a second home. Then Theo was there with a broad grin on his face, a rough hug for his brother, and a too quick kiss for Morris. “Hey, I missed you guys.” Theo hooked another chair with his ankle and sat down for the brief time he’d allow himself to remain. “How’d it go?”

  Lincoln immediately launched into a detailed description of the day, his arms waving as he gestured. Theo shook his head, a smile playing on his lips as he squeezed Morris’s hand. Their gazes caught, and Theo’s eyes were soft as he mouthed, “Thank you.”

  Morris’s heart flipped as he squeezed Theo’s hand back. “Anytime.”

  Chapter Thirty

  THEO POURED himself a second cup of coffee and leaned his hip against the counter as he considered the list of things he had to do today. He had to stop by the fish and farmer’s markets to see w
hat he could find for today’s special. Then he could leave the prep to Scottie, come back here to catch up some on chores and laundry before he had to be back for dinner and closing.

  No, fuck, he had the date with Morris. A mostly full day of relaxing. And Theo was not about to give that up. Morris was right; they had to start making each other a priority too, and he had been looking forward to this day.

  Theo quickly recalculated as he glanced at his watch. If he left in the next five minutes and he talked Lincoln into helping him out, he could be back from the market by the time Morris would be caffeinated enough to want morning company. He could throw a load of laundry in after they returned, and the rest of the chores that didn’t belong to Lincoln could wait until tomorrow. The world wouldn’t end if the living room was left undusted for another day. Damn stuff just came right back.

  “Hey, Linc, come on, man,” Theo called. “I want to bribe you.”

  “What kind of a bribe?” Lincoln asked with heavy suspicion as he came into the kitchen, dressed for the day without Theo having to harass him. Theo lifted his mug to his lips and paused, blinking at his brother. He wore bright blue socks with a cartoon face on the front and white cloth spikes running up the backs of his calves. Theo lowered his cup, shaking his head in bemusement.

  “What are those?” He pointed toward the insanity on Lincoln’s legs.

  Lincoln stiffened and thrust his chin out. “Sonic the Hedgehog socks. Morris got them for me at the show yesterday.”

  “He would. He probably bought a pair for himself too.” Theo smiled and took a sip of his coffee as he tried to remember if Sonic the Badger was a comic book character or something to do with video games. “Cool, they’ll make a statement when we’re out and about today. People at the market are going to have a heyday.”

  “That’s all you’re going to say?” Lincoln asked, his brow beetling.

  “Excuse me?” Theo studied his brother, not sure where he messed up this time. Nothing he said lately seemed to be the right thing. Maybe he shouldn’t have implied he might get some looks at the market. Teenagers were so damn touchy. “Was there something else I should’ve said?”