Page 63 of Crossing the Brooklyn Briggs
Thank you. That’s what I’m supposed to say, but the words stick in my throat.
Mark falters in my silence, but he recovers quickly, holding out his arm. “Should we go?”
“Yes.” Thankfully that word makes it out.
“Brooklyn?”
I turn to find Jordan standing in the middle of my living room with something heavy in his expression. Regret? “Yes?”
“Have fun tonight.”
Chapter Nineteen
Brooklyn
Mark doesn’t say anything aboutJordan until he opens the passenger door of his car for me. “Who was that?”
For some reason, I don’t want to tell him that Jordan is my twin brother’s best friend, or even that he’smyfriend. Nor do I want to lie, so I find an awkward middle ground as I climb into the car. “Oh, uh, he works for my landlord. Landscaping.”
Is that technically true if Houston is the one who hired him for the yard? I still haven’t figured out exactly how my brother fits into the house where I live, but I’m going to guess he and my landlord are in business together or something along those lines. I had no idea Houston would be interested in real estate, but maybe I shouldn’t be surprised. He invested in a bookstore as well as a landscaping company, so clearly he’s got some breadth.
“Briggs?”
The way Mark says that tells me this isn’t the first time he’s said my name. We’ve already left my neighborhood, which means I was lost in thought for longer than the few seconds I thought it was. “Sorry, what did you say?” I feel like I should have some sort of explanation. “I got a concussion the other day, so I’m still a little fuzzy.”
Mark smiles, though it feels a little condescending. “That’s too bad. I was just curious if you had that new troublemaker student that transferred to Sky View this week.”
Oh my goodness, I was supposed to tell Jordan that Mateo didn’t show up for my class today! I didn’t want to tell him over text, but then I got so distracted by finding something to wear that I completely forgot. “Uh, he’s in my third period, but I haven’t met him yet.”
Mark clicks his tongue. “First week and he’s already ditching? That’s a bad sign. He barely paid attention in my Calculus class today, so I’m thinking he’s a lost cause.”
“I hope not.” Jordan is already worried about his brother, and this isn’t going to help anything.
“Oh?” Mark glances at me. “You think the delinquent has a chance?”
“I think everyone has the capacity to change,” I say quietly.
“You’re a better person than me. He clearly doesn’t want to be at school, so I’m ready to give up on him.”
“I’m sure he already feels like a lot of people have given up on him. I don’t want to be another one.”
“Huh. Interesting take.”
We’re quiet the rest of the drive to the restaurant, which is fine by me. It gives me a chance to process what just happened in my living room. Or almost happened, I guess. Despite what he said, Jordan nearly kissed me.Jordan Torresalmost kissed me.
And I almost let him.
That’s crazy, right?
“Ever been here?” Mark asks as he pulls into the parking lot of one of the fanciest restaurants in the city.
I gape at the stonework on the building’s exterior and the large fountain by the entrance. Why on earth would a high school teacher choose a place like this for a date? I’m going to have to pay for my own food so the guilt doesn’t eat me alive, and my bank account won’t be thrilled by that.
“No,” I squeak, “I haven’t been here. Are you sure we should—”
He unbuckles his seatbelt and slips from the car, coming around to my side to let me out.
I guess I’m not as overdressed as I thought I would be.
