Mr. Write [COMPLETED]

Chapter 39 - "Can a sound jig?"

Elliot sat on the edge of the couch, her gaze wandering aimlessly over the office. The sound of footsteps on the stairs brought her attention to the door. The lock clicked and the door swung open.

"Hey," she said, as Beck stepped inside.

He paused halfway inside.

"You're waiting for me. Should I take this as a bad sign and make a dash for the exit?"

Elliot laughed and Beck instantly smiled in response.

"No, there is no need for mad dashes," she said. "At least not today. Who knows what tomorrow holds?"

Beck chuckled and stepped inside, closing the door. When Elliot didn't move from her perch, he slid his hands into his pockets and looked at her.

"Why are you waiting? Or should I try twenty questions? I'm pretty good at that and I might get the right answer."

Elliot smiled then her expression shifted to a look of intrigue.

"You told Grant we were working together," she said.

"Oh, yeah. I did," he said.

She laughed, the sound sending a light into her eyes.

"You say that like you haven't been hiding the fact from your brother since the beginning. What changed?"

Beck shifted and dropped his gaze, one hand raising to rub the back of his neck.

"What changed was his reaction," he said, a note of embarrassment hidden in his voice.

"Which was...?

He looked back up at her, a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth, while a look of disbelief lingered in his blue eyes.

"He was surprised and...um...impressed."

Elliot blinked rapidly, staring at him.

"You're serious?" she said.

Beck gave a low, self-mocking chuckle.

"I am."

She opened and closed her mouth trying to find words that voiced her surprise.

"How...I mean he...why...you can't be...really he...Ducks..."

Beck burst out laughing.

"Ducks?" he asked.

Elliot shrugged, giving him a baffled grin.

"I couldn't think of what to say."

"That is a first."

He stepped around her and lay his satchel on the couch. Elliot settled herself on one end, pulling her legs beneath her, while Beck sank into his normal spot.

"How did this even happen? I thought he was supposed to frown upon your endeavors to be a writer and mock you for your ambitions?"

Beck leaned forward over his knees, his hands clasped. For a second he stared at the ground, his face a mask of bewilderment and amusement. He looked at her.

"I thought so too," he said. "For a second I regretted saying that we worked together. But the damage was already done. I figured I had to tell him. And I did." Beck chuckled and shook his head. "When I told him I was working for you and told him who you were and your accolades, he was impressed." He shrugged. "I guess it wasn't as big a deal as I thought it would be."

She reached out and playfully slapped his arm.

"Look at you, being all proud to write this book now," she said.