A Little Side of Geek

by Marguerite Labbe

  Theo gave in and let out a low whistle when he saw Augustus’s setup. The long brick grill had been erected in its own space in the backyard on a bed of crushed stone. The pale yellow brick outlined in darker brick over the arched opening held firewood for the smoker built into the side. The grill itself was wide enough to hold a ridiculous amount of meat. And there was nothing more that Augustus liked to do on a hot summer day than grill. Even now the smell of smoking meat made Morris’s stomach rumble.

  “Come on, Theo. We can swap thoughts. Morris tells me you’re a mean cook.” Augustus poured them all margaritas and discussed the workings of his prize as Theo peppered him with excited questions. Morris sat down between Victor and Joe and stretched out his legs. He wouldn’t get a word in edgewise for at least half an hour.

  “So that’s your new guy,” Joe said, giving Theo a contemplative look. Morris’s brother-in-law was a serious man whose work had him traveling often, so it was good to have a chance to sit back and relax with him. “He’s not what I expected.”

  “Yeah, me neither,” Morris said with a light laugh.

  “Augustus is going to love him,” Victor added in. “That grill of his is intimidating as hell.”

  Morris watched his dad and Theo, remembering how he’d been so sure a relationship with Theo would never work. On the surface, they were so different. But the same could be said for his parents. His dad was the no-nonsense litigator and his mom the art teacher who filled their home with the brightly painted abstract landscapes she was so fond of. He liked social gatherings; she preferred the quiet of her garden. He had his old cigars, rich food, and alcohol, and she was more into yoga and balanced diets. But if you looked deeper they just fit, like how he and Theo fit.

  His gaze sought out Lincoln, who stood on the lawn next to Laila weighing a beanbag in his hand as he eyeballed the target. This sense of family was what he’d been missing in other relationships, the belonging and intimacy, and he wasn’t giving it up for anything.

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  THEO GLANCED at Morris, who was busy making more margaritas, and moved toward the deck door. He peeked into the kitchen at the four chattering women inside. The introductions earlier were a confused blur of faces and names, but Morris talked about them often, and there were pictures in his apartment. Theo used that to put faces to names. Morris’s mama, Laverne, stood at the stove adding some seasoning to a pot. The three sisters were ranged around the room engaged in various tasks but chatting more than anything. Just the way the guys were poking at the grill and talking.

  Theo couldn’t forget Morris’s twin. Makayla had Morris’s broad cheeks and long legs. She was dancing in place, bopping along to the radio as she sliced pineapple for a fruit salad. She’d probably be the hardest to win over.

  Laila’s mama looked just like her daughter, and Theo had to rack his brains for her name. It was the only one that didn’t begin with an M. Oh yeah, Sierra, which meant the pretty lady loading the dishwasher was Monica, the middle sister. He wanted a better look at that kitchen, and he’d only get a chance when Morris was preoccupied.

  He slid the door open and slipped inside. “Hey, ladies.”

  As one they turned toward him with expressions ranging from confused to curious. “Do you need something?” Laverne asked as she glanced out toward the deck where the rest of the men were gathered.

  Theo looked over his shoulder. Lincoln was occupied setting up what looked to be a croquet course with Laila, Augustus was adding a log to the smoker, and Morris was pouring another round of drinks. Theo wanted to get a chance to talk without him hovering and leaping to his defense every second. He would have to face the sister gauntlet sometime.

  “I wanted to see if you needed any help in here.” Theo had survived Morris’s dad and brother-in-laws. Now it was time to face the real challenge.

  “Well, we’re wrapping up and about to join you on the deck, but I can always use another pair of hands,” Laverne said with a welcoming smile.

  “Yes.” Theo rubbed his hands together in delight. He wanted to check out every nook and cranny of this kitchen. It was amazing. One day he would have the kitchen of his dreams at home, but until then he would tinker in kitchens like this.

  Morris opened the sliding glass door and stuck his head through. “Do not let that man touch a cooking utensil.”

  “Hush, you,” Theo said with a pointed look at Morris. “Cooking is a bonding ritual. I’m bonding.”

  Morris shook his head and came in, shutting the door behind him. “You have a problem. You see a kitchen you haven’t touched and feel an insatiable need to lay your claim on it.”

  “You wound me.” Theo laid a hand on his chest and assumed an innocent expression. “Similar to how you feel the need to check out every writing utensil you run across.” He turned to Laverne. “Did you know he is compelled to test out every pencil and pen? One time when we were at the farmer’s market, Morris left a doodle on the scratch pad the vendor had laid out for orders.”

  “Now that has a familiar ring to it,” Makayla said with a hooting laugh. “Half my childhood books still have his sketches.”

  Morris shook his finger in Theo’s direction as he came toward him. “You’re changing the subject.”

  Theo caught his finger and kissed the tip. “Yep.”

  Laverne handed over a chopping knife. “Since you own a restaurant, I’m sure you’re used to prep. I have a mound of peppers to cut up for the kabobs.”

  “I’d love to.” Theo took it with a smile as Morris rolled his eyes.

  “Does that mean you’re helping too?” Laverne asked, raising a brow in her son’s direction as she reached for another apron for Theo. “I’m sure I can find something for you to do.”

  “I’ll help taste.” Morris patted his stomach. “That’s my official duty. And I’ll keep this one out of trouble.”

  Theo gestured around the kitchen. “You grew up with all of this and you can’t cook anything other than frozen pizzas?”

  “Again, my job is taster,” Morris replied in a lofty tone. “Someone needs to make that sacrifice.”

  “I’ve got to give it to you. You’ll try anything once even if you side-eye it first.” Theo leaned over a pot of gently bubbling greens and sniffed appreciatively. “Now, that smells good. Do you use ham hocks?”

  “I like the ham, but I like smoked turkey even better.” Laverne tapped her spoon on the rim. “Make the right kind of broth, add a little bit of fat and some heat—not really spice, just heat—and you have yourself a fine pot.”

  Smoked turkey, Theo might have to try that this fall when it got cooler and people started thinking of the holidays. He gathered the peppers and rinsed them off. “I can’t wait to taste them.”

  “They’re good,” Morris assured him. “As good as your greens. You’ll have to let him make them for you sometime, Ma.”

  “I guess this means that nonsense about you being a vegan wasn’t true.” Sierra glanced at Morris even as she continued to shape the rolls from the dough in front of her. Morris assumed an innocent expression as he swiped a fork and edged toward the fridge. She turned to Makayla. “Told you he wasn’t a weed-smoking hippie. Morris got you again.”

  Theo laughed and shook his head. “I couldn’t turn Morris into a vegan no matter how hard I tried, and I have zero interest in giving up meat.” He stifled a grin as Morris shot him a grateful look—oh baby, you think you’re safe. He began chopping the pile of tricolored peppers and onions with quick slices, tossing the cores and seeds into a waste bowl.

  “I told you Morris was messing with you.” Monica stamped her foot. “You always fall for it, ’Kayla. And this time you had me falling for it.”

  Makayla turned toward Morris, her eyes narrowing as he lifted the lid to one of the bowls in the refrigerator. “Mom, you’d better watch out, he’s stealing bits.”

  Morris dodged out of the way as Laverne turned toward him. “God, ’Kayla, it was a joke. It’s not my fault you’re so
gullible.” He stuck his tongue out at her, and she returned the gesture. Theo watched the interchange with a little pang. Robin and Jill used to bicker like that, all in good fun.

  Morris thought he was getting off easy, though. It was time to burst that bubble because Morris’s reaction was going to be amazing.

  “Now, I have this uncle with a farm in Montana. He raises all kinds of animals, some for eating, though mostly for other kinds of products.” Theo hid another smile as Morris and Makayla’s squabble stopped and all eyes turned toward him. Morris tried to catch his gaze and shook his head. Theo pretended not to notice as he continued to chop. This was going to be good. He’d been researching alpaca facts for days. “Goats for cheese and milk to make soaps and such. I’ve always loved visiting there.”

  “What about alpacas?” Makayla said with a quick glance at her brother, who stared at Theo in exasperation.

  “Oh yes, a whole herd of them. Did you know alpacas sing to each other?” Theo turned and gave the room a wistful look. “I always thought about maybe moving there and setting up my own—”

  “Theodore Boarman,” Morris warned in an ominous voice.

  Theo couldn’t stop the smirk that crossed his lips. “Morris Proctor.”

  “You’d better cut it out right now,” Morris continued. Damn he looked sexy with that stern expression. He resembled his father more than he realized.

  Theo had zero intentions of cutting it out. He’d been waiting too long for this, and Morris’s reactions were priceless. “You mean to tell me you don’t want to run away to Montana to get married and raise cute baby alpacas?” A flustered look crossed Morris’s face, and it caught Theo’s heart with a sweet tug. He liked knowing he could get Morris all flustered. “Just think, you can draw alpaca portraits on the side. Imagine the little store we’d have with the artwork, homemade organic food, and wool crafts.”

  “He isn’t serious,” Morris announced to the quiet, watching kitchen. “You’re not serious. Theo likes to tease, and he doesn’t know when to stop.”

  “That also sounds familiar,” Makayla said with a disgruntled look at her brother. “You don’t know when to lay off either.”

  Theo leaned closer to Morris and lowered his voice. “I may have been teasing about the alpacas, but not the M word.” Now that he said it, he knew he wanted it. Moving in might be the next step, but he didn’t want it to be the last.

  Morris’s eyes went all hazy again. “If you ever tried talking me into eloping, I’d make you face my mom and sisters,” he said with a tinge of desperation in his voice.

  Theo gave the ladies in the room an assessing glance. “Fair enough. Don’t forget, I’d have to face Jill too, so I suggest we plan it proper, when we get around to planning.”

  If Theo didn’t know better, he’d swear Morris was blushing.

  Makayla pointed a finger at Morris and snickered. “You should’ve seen your face when he started talking about Montana. Your dirty trick was worth it, just to see your face when Theo began messing with you.”

  “I wouldn’t have had to resort to such tactics if you weren’t trying to be nosy behind my back,” Morris retorted. “I’m allowed a little privacy. If you wanted to know about Theo, you could’ve asked me.”

  “A sister’s got to look out for her baby bro. And if you don’t get out of that potato salad, Mama’s gonna thwap you with her spoon.”

  Morris hid the fork behind his back as Laverne turned toward him. “You’re a troublemaker, Makayla. Stop trying to get me into trouble because you fell for the whole thing.”

  “So who takes care of your books at the restaurant?” Sierra asked before Makayla could retort, and Theo remembered that she was a CPA.

  “My sister, thank God. That is not a job I want.” Theo swept the squares of pepper into a brightly colored pile and started in on the onions. He spied Morris getting his bite of potato salad and chuckled under his breath. “Though right now I’m taking on a little more of the management until my niece makes her appearance.”

  Sierra covered the rolls with a cloth before sticking them by the stove. “Laila came during tax season. My boss about had hysterics.” She began cleaning the counter and shook her head at Morris as he investigated the next bowl. “You’d better be using the spreadsheet I gave you.”

  “I am.” Morris crossed his heart and nudged the door closed with his hip. “And I’m keeping every receipt, filed away by month. I swear.”

  “You’d better or you’ll have to find another sucker to do your taxes next quarter.”

  “You’ll see. I’m the soul of organization.” Morris palmed a brownie and turned to Theo. “And on that note, you are on your own. Don’t say I didn’t warn you when they go for your throat.”

  Theo watched in amusement as Morris retreated before any more comments could be made about how he lived his life. Sometimes a little mothering and sistering could get old, but damn he missed it. The sisters looked at each other, and Makayla smiled a feral little smile.

  “Please don’t go for my jugular. Morris thinks I’m adorable the way I am.” Theo finished up the onions and looked around for something else to do. He really did love this kitchen. When he, Morris, and Lincoln looked at new places, they’d have to look for one with glassed-in cabinets like this. Theo eyed Laverne’s well-stocked spice cabinet. “Would you mind terribly if I made a rub for the kabobs?”

  “I don’t see why not,” Laverne said as she put a lid on the greens and wiped her hands. “Augustus usually takes care of that, but I don’t think he’d mind picking up a new trick or two.”

  “What kind of meat are you using?” Theo asked, opening the cabinet and very aware of three sets of eyes on him. Maybe he shouldn’t have teased Morris out the door.

  “Half chicken, half shrimp.”

  “That’ll be good.” Theo began picking spices, envying Morris his stolen bites. He was getting rather hungry himself.

  Makayla came to Theo’s side and crossed her arms. “I don’t know how many sisters you’ve got, but Morris has three. Hurt him and you’re going to find all three of us on your doorstep.”

  “Makayla!” Laverne shot her a disapproving look. “What would you say if Morris threatened Victor?”

  “Morris did threaten Victor, Mama. Don’t you remember?”

  Monica laughed. “Oh God, I’d forgotten about that. He tore Victor up in that silly wrestling video game and told him to remember that if he ever made you cry.”

  “That wasn’t a threat. It was strategy,” Theo said with a laugh. “I have siblings, so I can appreciate a good protective threat. The first time Jill brought Craig by when they were seriously dating and discussing moving in together, I may have done something similar. And Morris told me Lincoln already gave him a warning about me. It’s okay.”

  Makayla leaned her elbows on the counter as she watched Theo concoct his rub. “His last boyfriend messed with his head.”

  Theo pondered the cumin as he considered her words. He knew part of the issue was Morris’s family, though well-meaning, and Morris’s own pride. And because of that pride, he didn’t think Morris would appreciate him sticking his foot in. “We’ve talked about that, just as we talked about my own hang-ups.”

  Theo gave her a serious look in return. “Morris wants to be appreciated for himself, and I do.”

  “And what do you want, young man?” Laverne asked, pouring herself a glass of tea before putting the pitcher on a tray to take outside.

  “I want someone who’ll stick by me.” Theo thought of Morris and smiled. “And I have no doubt Morris will.”

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  “I SEE you didn’t manage to extricate him,” Augustus observed as Morris emerged back onto the deck.

  “No, he’s in his element.” Morris sat back in the deck chair and picked up his drink. “He’s probably giving them alpaca facts while julienning something.”

  And thinking about marriage. Wow, that still made Morris’s insides quake a little. That was the co
mmitment to end all commitments, but Morris had to admit his thoughts had been dancing around that too. He wouldn’t move in with a guy, give up his personal space and freedom, if he wasn’t serious about their future. This was kind of making it official. He’d come here thinking he’d let his family get to know Theo and Lincoln, let them realize how important they both were to him. It looked like he was leaving with a set future, and despite the inner nerves, he was floating on a happy cloud.

  “You mean the alpaca thing was real?” Victor asked, his eyes widening in disbelief. “Makayla’s going to have kittens.”

  “Oh no, I was messing with her,” Morris said with a light laugh. “I forgot to tell Theo about it and he found out. Now he’s running with the joke for all he’s worth, teasing me. I can’t believe Makayla bought it.”

  “That’s because she trusted that one.” Joe pointed toward his daughter out on the lawn. Laila was laughing as Lincoln spoke earnestly to her, waving his hands to emphasize his point.

  Augustus sat a platter of sliced grilled sausage and spicy mustard in front of them and took one of the empty chairs. “I didn’t believe it for one minute. No son of mine was going to be a vegan.”

  Morris really wished he wouldn’t use that particular phrase. It brought back too many uncomfortable memories of arguments over school, over his life choices. Arguments that had been settled but still lingered in his mind. Today was a good day, a new start, and he wasn’t going to fall into the habit of getting pissy and defensive.

  “I’m going to go harass Sierra and see if we can’t get a little something extra to go with the sausages,” Joe said as he stood up. “Anybody else want a beer?” He took orders, and Morris peered inside the kitchen as Joe opened the door. He caught a glimpse of Theo, still chatting away, looking completely at ease.

  “Hey, Linc, there’s some food here if you and Laila are hungry,” Morris called to the pair on the lawn. Lincoln’s hunger must’ve outweighed his shyness because after a hasty consultation with Laila, they both made their way to the deck, Lincoln lagging back. “Go easy on him, Dad. No interrogations. He’s already nervous because I’ve told tales of your exploits in court.”