Page 26 of Big Pucking Deal
“Ok. Wait.” I grab her arm and stop her from walking into the practice room. “I didn’t end up hooking up with them. I mean, we were in the middle of…stuff, when Joaquín flipped out and yanked me out of there.”
“I thought you said you did things you’d never done before?” She props her hands on her hips and tilts her head.
“Well yeah, that’s true. But I think our definition of that differs extremely. How about I tell you all about it after practice?”
She eyes me skeptically at first, then says, “Fine. But I want cheeseburgers, french fries, and tea. And I don’t mean sweet tea.”
“Deal. Now let's go burn some calories before we overdose on carbs.”
“Girl. That is crazy! I can’t believe you were a vir–” I reach across the small table and slap my hand over her little, but loud, mouth.
“Jesus, Brooke.”
“Sorry. I forget to use my inside voice sometimes. My mom always gets on me for it.” She takes a big gulp of her soda and continues. “So you and Joaquín have secretly been harboring feelings for one another since you were kids. He didn’t act on it because of your brother, and you didn’t let anyone pick your garden because you were saving yourself for him. Oh my gah. I love it. Please write a book about this. I so want to read it.” She picks up a salty fry and shoves it into her mouth while wiping away a non-existent tear.
“Yes, but please don’t ever use the phrasepick your gardenagain. I will stop being your friend and pretend I don’t speak English. That was worse than double stuffed oreo.” I wipe my mouth and toss the crumpled napkin onto my empty tray.
“What about Jordan?”
“Remember that game when Joaquín freaked out at that fan and got ejected?” She nods and pops the last bit of her cheeseburger in her mouth. “Well it seems Jordan was curious about his reaction and followed Joaquín into the locker room. Instead of telling Jordan it was nothing, he went and spilled everything. Noteverything. Just that he and I were together. The two of them had a come to Jesus with Jordan confessing that he kept us apart because he thought he’d lose his best friend, and Joaquín forgave him. I’m sure they bro-hugged it out. But by the time I spoke with Jordan, he wasn’t as furious.”
As if summoned by the mere mention of his name, my phone buzzes from where it sits on the table and the screen lights up with a picture of Jordan in one of my dresses and a crown from when we were little.
“Speaking of Jordan,” I tell her and hold up my phone. I swipe at the screen and say, “Were your ears ringing?”
“Huh? No. Why?” I can hear the sound of his car door closing and wait for a second until his phone connects with his speakers.
“Brooke and I were just talking about you and like magic, you called.”
“You’re with Brooke? What…what are you two talking about?”
I roll my eyes with a smirk. “Oh she was just telling me that she too thinks your birthmark looks like a cute little heart.”
“Jesus, Jolie!” He shouts and I can help but snort with laughter.
“Chill out. We didn’t talk about your birthmark. But I do know you slept with her so now I have to warn you that if you hurt her, I will cut you.”
I look at Brooke and wink and she pumps her fist with a little “yes.”
“Warning understood. Well I was calling you to invite you over to watch the game and tell you about Brooke and me, but since you already know, do you just want to come watch the game?”
“Okay. Sure. Did you–”
Having twin telepathy, Jordan answers my question before I can finish asking. “I already talked to Brooke this morning. She has studying to do, so she won’t be able to join us.”
“Oh. Well okay then. Guess I’ll just see you later.”
“Yup. And bring dessert. I’ll order us something but you’re better at picking out desserts.”
I chuckle softly and tell him I know just what to get. When we hang up, I look at Brooke and find her smiling.
“What’s got you smiling?” I ask.
“I’d tell you but you said you don’t want to hear all the dirty deets about your brother and me, so.” She sips on her drink and diverts her eyes.
“Yeah. No thanks. Hard pass.”
“Fine but it’s your loss.”
