The Frame-Up (The Golden Arrow #1)(42)

“You’ve never heard of Twilight?” Simon asks.

Matteo gives an affable grin. “Unless you mean the Zone, no.”

Simon studies Matteo the way a scientist studies a curious specimen. “So what fandoms are you into?”

“Fandoms?” The word is obviously foreign in Matteo’s mouth.

“It means, What are you a fan of? What do you watch? Who do you ship?” I pop a baby carrot in my mouth, devilishly relishing his squirming under the question.

“Ship?” he asks finally, rubbing the back of his neck. He shoots me a look that plainly says, “Help!”

“Ships are couples. Shorthand for ‘relationship’ originally, but now just means two people you want to see get together.” I really should help him. Really, I should. Simon watches us with naked glee on his face.

Matteo frowns. “I liked that Arwen lady and Strider? Is that a ship?”

I struggle not to correct him that Arwen was an elf and not a lady. Though kudos to Matteo for being able to even name Arwen from LOTR. I try to hide my distaste. Those books are long and boring, with a few exciting dragon chapters followed by long and boring.

Simon nods. “Ah, so you’re a fantasy geek. I can dig that. Sorry it’s not D&D downstairs.”

“Don’t you like The Lord of the Rings?” Matteo asks me, puzzled.

“Not my favorite. I’m more of a space geek. Trek, Wars, Battlestar, Firefly, Doctor Who—science fiction, space opera. That sort of stuff.” I turn to Simon. “He’s new to all this.”

“So there are types of . . .” He probably wants to say “geeks,” but I can see he’s afraid of offending Simon.

Tej leans in around Simon and dips a chip into the French onion dip. “Geekdom? You betcha. I am a fellow fantasy geek.” He executes a mini bow. “People come at geekdom from different directions. There’s the Japanese anime lovers, like my wife. Then there’s the band and music geeks—”

“Guilty as charged.” Andy waves a hand. We’ve attracted everyone’s attention apparently. “I played oboe.” He would.

“Music geeks like to dabble. A little of this, a little of that,” Simon finishes.

“And then there are the space geeks,” Tej adds.

I raise my hand. “Although every once in a while, if I’ve had some wine, I do like Game of Thrones. Or should I call it ‘Death and Boobies’? Brienne of Tarth is my Patronus.”

Tej cracks up. “Yeah, you need to drink for that show.”

At this point, Matteo has his arms crossed over his chest and is staring between us like we’re speaking a different language. “What on earth is a Patronus?”

“Well, technically our animal counterpart when you use the Expecto Patronum spell. But it can also mean a character you love. Or admire. It’s pretty standard in the geek world. For example, if you ever need to find your people, it’s totally legit to yell out, ‘Who’s your Patronus?’” Simon makes it a point by yelling the last words. It’s a game we play in the office from time to time.

“No one could possibly be prepared for—” Matteo is cut off by a chorus of answers from various rooms in the house.

“Giles from Buffy!”

“Katniss Everdeen!” This from Nina, who looks pretty fierce for a wee one.

“Neil deGrasse Tyson!” Simon answers his own question with a smile.

Kyle steps into the kitchen and taps Matteo on the shoulder. “Hey, do you want to play Settlers or just hang with the lady friend and watch the movies? I can sign you up if you want.” He holds up a clipboard.

“Absolutely Ron Swanson from Parks and Rec,” Tej answers.

“Dana Scully,” Tej’s wife calls.

I offer her a fist bump. “Word. Dana Scully is amazing.”

Matteo turns to me, wide-eyed. “How do I know who my Patronus is? Can you look it up somewhere?”

This brings a wave of laughter from everyone gathered.

“Okay, okay. Nothing to see here. Move along.” I try to fight my own laughter. “Babe, we’ll visit Pottermore sometime. For now I think”—I tap my chin—“Wash from Firefly.”

Kyle arrives back in the kitchen carrying the Settlers of Catan box. “Okay, I’m headed downstairs after I start the movies.”

After the spirit animals conversation, Matteo sticks to me like glue. I’m his life raft in this sea of awesome. “Oh good, I’m curious about these Star Wars movies. I’ve heard about them a lot since meeting MG.”

You could have heard a pin drop.

Kyle sucks in a breath. “You’ve never seen Star Wars? Like, ever?”

“Never seen them, no. Is that bad?” Matteo has failed his entrance exam to my world. Never seen Star Wars.

“We’ve got ourselves a virgin!” Kyle grasps Matteo’s shoulders in his hands and shakes him back and forth with enthusiasm. “Don’t worry. We’ll be gentle. Well, at least I’ll be gentle. The jury is still out on MG.”

I cough to cover the rush of heat spreading on my face, and beside me, Matteo’s hands spasm.

“Where on earth did you find him?” This question is to me, and I can tell that Kyle is baffled I’m dating someone so far outside our world.