America's Geekheart (Bro Code #2)(98)

“I’m quitting, Sarah,” he says hoarsely. “I swear, I’ll sell it all. I’ll retire and come home and talk you into taking vacation every other week to go see the world and I’ll stay home and cook you dinner and second dinner and dessert and breakfast and show up at your office with second breakfast and morning snack and lunch and second lunch.”

My heart is so full, it’s warming my entire body and making words hard. “Beck. You don’t have to do that for me.”

“I don’t want those shitheads saying nasty things about you. I don’t want anyone saying nasty things about you.”

“It doesn’t matter.”

“It does. You’re sitting here looking at makeup and you’re not wearing a geeky T-shirt.”

“Are you sure you’ve eaten?” I ask lightly.

“I’m getting hungry again, but that’s not the point. I can push through it.”

“Beck. Compromising isn’t always a bad thing.”

“I should’ve eaten three or five times?”

“No, I’m saying if I’m going to do more video blogs, I can wear very light makeup to make up for the fact that I’ll be under harsh lights.”

His neck goes tense under my fingers. “You’re making more videos?”

“I can concentrate on how many people are saying ugly things, or I can realize that I have a unique opportunity to share some of my passions with the people who want to listen despite the circus. If I quit, if I disappear again, then it doesn’t matter who wins. It matters that I lose. I don’t want to lose. Especially when I’m basically losing to myself.”

He looks up at me finally, studying me with eyes so serious, they almost don’t look like his.

But they are.

And they’re full of worry and concern and—

My breath catches, because that’s utter adoration.

For me.

Still.

“You are such a fucking badass,” he says reverently.

I laugh and bend down to kiss him. “Not always.”

“I’m still going to hunt them down and hook their nipples up to a car battery while I give them flushies.”

“Serendipity, it’s time,” my dad growls with a thicker growl than normal. “He’s proven himself. He can join the fight against the Euranians.”

I laugh again and stroke Beck’s tense shoulders. “Thanks, Dad. But I don’t know if I want to lose him to the war.”

“Sacrifices have to be made in the name of justice.”

“Judson, dear, at least let them get married and have babies first. It makes for such a better gut-wrenching story when he dies as she’s giving birth.”

“Mom.”

“What? It does. In fiction, naturally. Not in your life, dear.”

A yowl erupts from inside the house, and I jerk my head to the back door. “Oh, no. Cupcake’s alone with Meda.”

Beck releases me and follows me as I dart into the house, where I find Cupcake sprawled on her back in the middle of the kitchen floor, with Meda grooming her little pig snout.

“What—” I start.

“I told you they loved each other,” Mom says.

Beck slips his arms around my waist and rests his head on mine. “Huh.”

While we watch, Cupcake starts to get up, but Meda yowls again and bops the pig on the ear, and Cupcake meekly goes back to lounging so Meda can knead her pork shoulders and clean her face.

I just gape at both of them.

“Love always wins,” Dad growls.

Beck’s arms tighten around me, and I lean back into him. “Can we still go check out this Shipwreck place you love so much?” I ask.

He grips me tighter and nods into my hair. “Yep. Leave your clothes here. You won’t need them. Ow! Dammit. Sorry, sir. Forgot you were standing there. Meant I had some that’ll fit her. Promise.”

“Shipwreck?” Mom asks. “What’s Shipwreck?”

“Dirty little town. Terrible. No vegan food. They all swill ale out of community pots. Ow! Hey, I needed that rib.”

“You’re lying to my mother. Very badly,” I whisper.

“I know, but it’s the easiest way to get you all to myself without having to share.”

“You’ll always have to share,” Dad growls.

“Can it wait a week?”

“Wait, back up.” Mom frowns at him. “Are you serious about retiring from fashion?”

“Yes. No. I don’t know.” He sighs into my hair. “And I have to be back to announce my new foundation on Wednesday. But I want to be home more. Here. And I don’t want Sarah to deal with all the shit that comes with public life.”

“Beck—”

“I know. I know. You’re strong. You can handle it. But you shouldn’t have to.”

My mom smiles brightly. “Excellent.”

Dad and I both eyeball her, because we both know that look. “What?” I ask her.

“I need a new job. Train me to run your fashion empire, and I won’t have Judson gut you for touching our daughter.”

“Mom.”

“I love clothes. And these underwear are ridiculously comfortable. I’ve been meaning to retire, but I don’t do boredom well. I might as well help run an empire. Plus, that way we can really stick it to him if he’s ever stupid enough to leave you.”