Page 114 of Crossing the Brooklyn Briggs
She turns a delicious shade of pink, her eyes on Houston. “The night could be better, but that doesn’t mean I’m miserable. It’s hard to be miserable with you around.”
I can’t help myself; I press a kiss to her temple, breathing in the smell of her shampoo. It’s something floral. Jasmine, maybe? “Have I told you yet that I love you?” I whisper.
Her eyes dart to Houston, who is now focused on his phone and oblivious to the world, and then she captures my mouth with a quick kiss that leaves me reeling. I don’t know if it’s the forbidden flavor of it or the fact that Brooklyn was the daring one instead of me, but I’m left completely speechless.
“It’s probably his neighbor,” Brooklyn says over my head, speaking to Micah’s table. How in the world was she paying attention to their conversation when I’m over here ready to throw caution to the wind and kiss her again? Let Houston see.
“His neighbor?” Micah says. “Isn’t his neighbor married? And, like, fifty?”
Ah, they’re talking about Houston, who can never pay attention to anything but his phone. Multitasking is not his forte. He’s grinning at the screen, clearly enjoying himself. He must be texting Darcy. “New tenant moved in this week,” I explain. “Her name is Darcy.”
And while Houston is obviously interested in Darcy, that doesn’t change his burning attraction to Tamlin tonight. He’d better be careful.
If he really is texting his new neighbor, he needs to stop looking at Tamlin so intently as she returns from the restroom and gracefully slides into her seat. That will only get him into trouble, with or without Darcy in the picture.
There’s something oddly familiar about Tamlin, though I can’t figure out what it is. Maybe I’ve just seen her on TV often enough to have her in my head. Regardless, I don’t exactly have the mental bandwidth tonight to contemplate the reporter and her unexplained presence. That will have to be all Houston.
“Are you in this, Briggs?” she says when Houston takes his seat. “I can’t keep carrying the team forever.”
I can’t stop the laugh that bursts out of me, and I’m glad to hear Brooklyn laugh as well so I feel like less of a jerk. Houston really has met his match, though I didn’t think anyone could so easily ignore his fame.
Houston doesn’t appreciate our amusement, throwing us glares before returning his full attention to Tamlin. “Oh, I’m in this.”
“And now for our lightning round!” the quiz master says. “Sports.”
Houston and Tamlin both go on high alert. Houston has lived and breathed sports for the last decade and a half, but Tamlin’s entire job is based around knowing sports facts. They’re like two fighters in the corners, ready for the bell to tell them they can start throwing punches.
Brooklyn lets out a little sigh and takes my hand again. “At least we’re going to win, right?”
“Speak for yourself,” Kit says, though he’s glancing between Houston and his nemesis with doubt in his eyes.
“Who has won more grand slam titles?” the quiz master says into his microphone. “Venus or—”
“Serena!” Tamlin looks a little too proud of herself as she shoots Houston a smirk.
“Next question. Who was the first US president to throw the ceremonial pitch in—”
“Taft,” Houston says before the question is even finished.
“Okay,” I mutter, “this is getting ridiculous.”
The two of them answer question after question, rarely letting any other teams get a word in. And while tonight has been entertaining, I’m starting to worry about Houston. Tamlin looks like she just wants to stick it to Houston, but he seems to think beating her has some sort of significance. This is more than just a professional dislike.
When I glance at Brooklyn, her eyebrows are furrowed as she watches them go back and forth with no sign of slowing. If she’s feeling nervous too, then it means I’m not making things up. She knows Houston better than anyone, and she has always been empathetic toward her brother, which means she’ll be feeling his confusion all night.
On the final question, both Houston and Tamlin remain silent, staring at each other. Kit calls the answer, earning his team the winning point, but they don’t seem to notice. They’re too focused on each other.
“Didn’t know that one?” Houston says gruffly. He sounds a lot like Chad right now, which isn’t like him. He’s usually such a carefree guy.
Tamlin tilts her head like she’s studying him. “Hate to disappoint, but I don’t know everything. I should go.”
Houston follows her to the door, leaving me alone with Brooklyn for the first time all day.Alonebeing a relative term, considering the rest of her family sitting at the table next to ours. But Fischer and Micah seem fully occupied with each other—their relationship must be a new one—and Skyler and Kit get up to claim their trophy and take a picture for the Wall of Winners. Soon enough, Fischer and Micah head to the door to follow Houston.
My arm immediately wraps around Brooklyn and pulls her against me. “Much better.” I nuzzle my nose into her neck, loving the way her pulse picks up speed.
“Houston is probably still outside,” she warns.
“I don’t care.” I press a kiss below her ear. “I’m talking to him tomorrow. First thing in the morning. I need him to know that I am head over heels for you, Queens, and that is never going to change.”
