Free The Geek and His Artist by Hope Ryan Page A

it doesn’t work on guys. Just chicks.”
    “You’re an asshole,” Jimmy said without heat as he snatched up his phone and punched the speaker button. He stowed his toothbrush and went back into his bedroom.
    “Yeah, yeah, so you tell me. Since you’re gay, you must love me, then.”
    “What?” Jimmy stopped dead in the middle of the room. “What the fuck does that have to do with anything?”
    Ronnie laughed. “You’re gay. You like assholes—get it?”
    Jimmy groaned and rolled his eyes. “Fuck off, Ronnie. Go jack off to Bailey’s picture or go ask her out or something. I have a date to go on.”
    “Fine, fine. Later.” Ronnie hung up, and Jimmy stuffed his phone into his pocket.
    Jimmy checked himself in the mirror one more time, frowning at his clothes. He’d opted for his I <3 Garrus T-shirt with the N7 logo on the back, and a dark blue button-down open over it. He’d picked out his best jeans and his only pair of semidress shoes. Sure he looked at least presentable, he grabbed his wallet, keys, and coat and headed downstairs.
    “Don’t be out too late,” Jimmy’s mom said as she came out of the living room.
    “I won’t be. Simon can’t be out too late, anyway.”
    His mom gave him an odd smile. “Enjoy your time together.”
    Jimmy blinked at her for a moment, then fidgeted. He knew this was so not the time to tell her. “Yeah, we’re just going to see a movie. He doesn’t get to all that often, thanks to the asshole.”
    “Language,” she admonished, but winked.
    He snickered. “Right. Yeah, uh… thanks to the jerk.”
    She laughed. “Better. Are you guys eating first?”
    Jimmy nodded. “I thought I’d t—uh, we’d go to Steak ’n Shake or something. Not too expensive, you know….”
    “That’s good.” She nodded and smiled. “Well, don’t want to be late for your date.” She waved a hand at the door.
    Jimmy turned, then stopped and slowly looked back at her. “Date? Mom, it’s only Simon,” he said, heart pounding.
    She laughed. “Honey, if you could see your face when you talk about him. If you’re not completely in love yet, you will be soon.”
    The heart-pounding kicked up another thousand notches. “Uh…. Mo—” His voice squeaked in a way it hadn’t in six years. He cleared his throat. “Mom?”
    She blinked, looking puzzled. “What?”
    “I… you… I mean, uh….” Smooth. No chance of telling her she’s wrong now, idiot.
    She continued to look puzzled for a moment, and then her face cleared and she smiled again. “Did you think I didn’t know?”
    Maybe it can be salvaged. “Know what?”
    “That you’re gay.”
    Nope. “Uh….”
    She laughed and Jimmy’s face heated. “Honey, I’ve known you were gay since you were five and you had a huge crush on Hercules, which turned into a crush on Tarzan, and eventually you worked your way through just about every Disney prince on film.”
    Jimmy couldn’t seem to move. He simply blinked at her. “You… you knew? You know. I… I….”
    “Oh, honey,” she said, moving in and wrapping her arms around his middle, since she was too short to reach anywhere else. She rubbed his back a little. “I’m sorry you didn’t feel you could say anything,” she said as she pulled back and looked up at him.
    “I… I didn’t, I thought….” He closed his mouth with an audible snap, took a deep breath, and let it out. “I didn’t think. I should have realized you’d accept me. I’m sorry,” he said quietly.
    She shook her head. “No, baby, that’s my fault. I just… I didn’t want to push you if you hadn’t faced it yourself. I know how hard it is to try to figure out your sexuality.”
    Jimmy blinked at her. “You do?”
    She grinned and nodded. “Oh yeah, baby. I’m bi.”
    “You’re… what? ” He could not have heard that correctly. “But you’re with Dad.”
    She scowled and sighed. “Yes, the person I fell in love with was a man. That doesn’t change my