Bonus Scene from ‘The Geek’s Guide to Unrequited Love’
I handed in the final version of The Geek’s Guide to Unrequited Love a while ago, but I can honestly say that main character Graham Posner hasn’t been too far from my mind (or heart) since. The other day I found myself wondering what he might be up to now…and out popped this little bonus scene. It’s an epilogue of sorts to the book.
For the millionth time, I put the gray t-shirt back on and scrutinize my reflection. I think I look all right. Felicia said something about gray making my red hair “pop” or something. (Yes, I called Felicia for fashion advice. And dating advice. I seriously would have considered working in some kissing advice but that might have been a little too awkward. Even for me.)
So, okay. I think I look good.
But then I wistfully catch a glimpse at the t-shirt I’ve swapped out the other million times. The stitched Ezula emblem on the pocket stares back at me.
I mean, lord knows it’s not like she needs the backstory that I’m into the Chronicles of Althena as an icebreaker; I think that fact is pretty well established given the entire history of our relationship. Still…is a shared passion ever a bad reminder? Also, it’s a cool-as-hell limited edition shirt from last year’s SDCC that I managed to snag on eBay.
I promise the dude in the mirror that the wardrobe decision is finally final because, seriously, there’s only so many times you can look at your own face before you start to pick it apart like it’s a new Indiana Jones movie or something.
“Ready?” My dad is standing at my room door, car keys in hand.
I let out a big breath. “I think. Maybe.”
He smiles at me. “You’ll be great. Just…be yourself.” Even he looks taken aback by how clichéd that sounded, but I actually have to grin. After all, being myself was what led to the date to begin with, so I can’t really knock the advice, can I?
I follow Dad downstairs and get a smile and a “good luck” from my stepmom before we make it out to the car. I stare up at the windows, partially convinced that Callie and Drew are peeking out from behind their blinds, shocked that their nerdy stepbrother has found another nerd who is willing to date him. They’re not—obviously—because we don’t live in the middle of some 1950s teen melodrama. But it’s still satisfying to pretend that they could be.
Dad turns on a podcast on Spider-Man back issues as soon as we get into the car and I find myself feeling grateful for the bajillionth time that I won the dad lottery. He understands that it’s way more calming to my nerves to hear a lively debate about Mary Jane Watson vs. Gwen Stacy rather than any sort of pep talk from him.
“Have fun!” he says as he drops me off at the mall entrance nearest to Halfling Comics.
Neutral territory. But also, again, shared passion territory. We agreed to meet at the little Althena display stand in the back (though we will, of course, be pretending there is an invisibility cloak draped over the entire reboot section). But after we established the meeting spot, I asked her if she would let me plan the rest of the date and she agreed. Good thing because I was in the mood for a little planning redemption.
I stare at the different iterations of Althena that adorn the cardboard display, focusing on the one that she cosplayed at NYCC, and go over each step of my plan for the night. But also remember to allow for spontaneity, Graham, a panicked voice in my head sounds.
“Graham?” This voice is not panicked. Nor is it imaginary. And when I turn around, it’s attached to a gorgeous face adorned with a huge smile. For me.
I immediately smile back. “Hi.”
She looks me up and down once.
“Excellent t-shirt choice,” she says.
