Page 88 of Crossing the Brooklyn Briggs
Me: Why would Jordan be ofve herne?
I don’t even bother correcting that. Houston is smart enough to interpret and know I meantover here.
Hou: I don’t know. He said some things today.
Me: What things?
Hou: He was talking about that time we annoyed Georgia with Christmas carols. I forgot we did that.
There’s nowein this situation. Houston rolled his eyes at us and spent most of the summer making out with his girlfriend. I don’t know how I forgot, but Jordan still hung around the house a lot, even when Houston was occupied. He drove me crazy, as always, but in hindsight I had more fun that summer than I’d had in years.
That was right before I started dating Garrett, my itchy sweater of a cheating boyfriend.Huh. Jordan’s insults really do make it easier to be honest about my opinions of people. Anyway, I saw a lot less of Jordan once I started dating Garrett, and now I’m starting to wonder if I know the reason why.
Hou: How are things with the math teacher? Still ogling from afar?
This feels like the sort of conversation we usually have during our movie nights, so I think he’s secretly fishing for info about Jordan. I should really go to bed, but if this gets me closer to being able to be open about my growing feelings for Jordan, I can sacrifice a few minutes.
Me: I’ve decided he’s not worth my time.
Hou: FINALLY
Me: *confused emoji*
Hou: I’m just saying if he hasn’t realized by now how cool you are, he’s probably too stupid to figure it out. Anyone worth your time is going to know he can’t do better than you from the moment he meets you.
Okay, well, my brother is the best.
Hou: I should let you sleep. Movie night?
Me: Tuesday?
Hou: Done. Your place. You have the better couch.
Me: Whose fault is that?
Hou: I like my house.
His house is a picture-perfect model home with no sense of life about it. Granted, it’s mainly above ground, so it’s better than my rented basement, but he could afford a mansion in the hills. I’ve never understood why he sticks to the suburbs on the outskirts of town.
Hou: Goodnight, Blondie. Don’t let Micah hog all the blankets.
Me: Too late. Love you!
Hou: Love you back.
Right before I lock my screen so I can finally go to sleep, another text comes in. This one makes me smile and take a second to hug my phone as if it might bring the words closer to my heart.
Jordan: I forgot to tell you earlier, but I’m proud of you for taking the high road, Queens. Inconveniencing Moses instead of humiliating him is the way to go. But I think you’re holding back. If you really want to get over the snoozefest, I think you need to give him a taste of the fun he could have had if he had looked away from the mirror for a second.
Jordan: I still think you should punch him, but I’m sure you’ll have a better idea.
I don’t know how he knows, but I swear Jordan knows exactly what I have planned for Monday. With all my thinking time today, I decided I can’t cower behind my comfort zones anymore. Mostly because my comfort zones aren’t even that comfortable right now. Maybe I’ll get Teacher of the Year, and maybe I won’t. But I’m tired of being miserable.
Me: I have the perfect plan. But I might need some help.
Jordan: Anything you need, I’m there.
Micah moans and reaches out for me, wanting to cuddle even in her sleep. I’m pretty sure her coworker Fischer would love to fill in for me—when he dropped her off, he looked at her like she was the only light in his life. But until Micah figures that out, I’ll be her person. It might be the only way I get cuddles too until Jordan realizes he doesn’t need to be perfect to be perfect for me.
