Page 103 of Crossing the Brooklyn Briggs
“Sure,” I tell him anyway, though I stand up and gesture that we should start walking.
Thankfully, he follows me out to the hall, talking in low tones as we go. “Cheng is announcing the Teacher of the Year.”
I nearly trip over my own feet. “Is she?”
He nods, eyes on the ground. “And I just wanted to say, no matter which of us gets it, I’m sorry for what I said on our date. I shouldn’t have asked you to take your name out of consideration. That was…awful.”
I wince. He’s not wrong, but I’ll feel mean if I agree with him. “You want to become a professor, right?”
He shrugs. “Not really. It’s more of the…themore, I guess. My mom is always telling me that I need to move up in the world if I want a woman to stick around, you know?”
I don’t know, but I can understand the pressure of living up to someone else’s standards. “You should do whatever makes you happy, Mark.Withwhoever makes you happy. You’re single now, but you won’t stay single for long.”
“You didn’t.” He nudges my shoulder with his.
Aaaand I’m done with this conversation. I’m still annoyed with him for leading me on and for the way he reacted to Mateo pointing out his mistakes, so I’m not about to talk about dating or Jordan or anything, really. Plus, I’ve still got that underlying migraine from yesterday, and it seems to throb with moreoomphthe longer this conversation goes.
“Well, Jaydin is saving me a seat,” I tell him and step to the side so a few students fill the space between us as everyone piles into the auditorium. “Good luck.”
Though he frowns, as if he doesn’t understand why the conversation ended, he gives me a single nod. “You as well, Briggs.”
I get a text right as I sit down next to Jaydin. Though she’s looking between me and Mark, who found a seat a few rows ahead and to the side of us, she thankfully doesn’t ask any questions. I know she wants to.
Jordan: I have failed you, Queens.
It’s the first text he’s sent me all day, something I am all too aware of, though I’ve tried to keep myself distracted. With this assembly, we’ve had shorter classes today, so that helped me stay focused on teaching. Micah called me at lunch, though she kept bringing up Jordan and reminding me that he hadn’t reached out yet. She keeps trying to convince me to bring Jordan to the trivia night we’re going to with our stepsister and her husband tomorrow, even though Houston will be there. Micah has her own love life to worry about with her coworker, Fischer, but instead she keeps trying to butt into mine.
Assuming I have a love life. At the moment, it doesn’t feel like I do. Yes, I could have sent Jordan a text to remind him of my existence, but should I really have to do that?
Last night during the movie, Houston was completely distracted and kept thinking about his neighbor, Darcy. They’ve barely spoken to each other and have known each other for less than three days, but he couldn’t get her out of his mind. What does that say about Jordan that he can’t remember to send me a good morning text or ask me how my day is going?
He texts again as if in answer to my question.
Jordan: In my defense, I thought about you in the shower this morning.
Jordan: Not in a creepy way!
Jordan: It was more of an “I wonder if Queens still steals secret sniffs of my body wash” kind of way.
“Um, what?” Jaydin says, grabbing my phone out of my hand. “I wasn’t actively trying to read your texts, but girl! What is this?”
The texts keep coming, and we read them together because this is easier than trying to tell her all of the details while Principal Cheng starts up the assembly, telling the students about all of the different teacher awards they will be giving out. Based on the low murmur of conversation around us, the students don’t care in the slightest. It’s too early in the year for them to have any preference on who gets what.
Jordan: I thought about you when my mom asked how Houston’s sister was doing while I was on my way out the door. She likes you, by the way. I like you too.
Jordan: I thought about you while I was mowing a lawn because I remembered you haven’t changed your phone background to my abs yet. I can do that for you if you want. I would hate for you to accidentally delete my picture, though I’m happy to provide another one if you do.
Jordan: I thought about you while I ate lunch with my coworker Rick while we scoped out some new hires. He thinks you’re too good for me. (He’s right.)
Jordan: I’ve thought over and over about what you said yesterday, and I am begging you to let me see you today so I can give you a proper response. My job can wait, but what I want to say to you can’t.
“Why did you fail to tell me hottie landscaper has mad game?” Jaydin asks in a whisper. “I’m sweaty just reading his texts!”
I throw my elbow into her ribs. “Would you stop?” She’s not wrong, though. My face is burning, and I can only imagine how much worse my blush would be if he was saying this to me in person.
“Hey, I’m living my love life through you right now!”
“And for our Humanities, we present the Teacher of the Year award to Mr. Brunner!”
