Page 62 of Crossing the Brooklyn Briggs
My heart beats a little harder. “You think? It’s pretty fancy.”
My words break him from his little trance. He blinks, turning to me with a half-smile. “It’s perfect. And if Mark doesn’t trip over his own feet at the sight of you, something’s wrong with him.” It still takes him a second to hand me the dress, but then he disappears, closing the door behind him.
By the time I’ve changed, pulled my hair into a braided side bun, and spent way too long on perfecting my makeup, I’ve run out of time to get any last-minute advice from Jordan. Mark will be here any second, and my heart feels like it’s going to beat right out of my ribcage. I’ve never been this nervous for a date, and I can’t figure out why I’m so anxious now. It must be because I’ve been interested in Mark for so long, and he’s so far above me that it doesn’t make sense for him to want to date me in the first place.
It’ll take a miracle for this date to lead anywhere.
Stepping out into the living room, I close my eyes as I say, “What do you think? Tempting enough for tonight to go well?”
I’m met with silence. Fearing Jordan left because I took so long, I open my eyes quickly, only to find him gaping at me.
Oh.
I may not know a lot about expressions, but I’m pretty sure I know what his is saying, and it has nothing to do with wishing me luck on my date. Jordan looks like he just received the giant hot fudge sundae he ordered on a hot summer day and doesn’t know where to start.
I clasp a hand around one elbow, ducking my head as my face lights on fire. That’s not what I expected from tonight, and I have no idea what to do with that reaction.
“Sorry,” Jordan says, pulling my gaze back to him. He’s closed off his expression, leaving nothing but a queasy-looking smile. “You caught me off guard. You look amazing, Queens.”
“Really?” I feel stupid asking, given the way he stared at me just now, but my heart is having a hard time believing anyone would look at me that way. “I feel way overdressed.”
“You’re not. Really.” He stands, his phone slipping from his lap to the floor. He doesn’t notice. “You’re going to blow him away tonight.”
Maybe I look nice, but that won’t change my inability to hold a conversation when we have nothing in common. It won’t change the fact that I can barely speak at all when I’m around Mark. My stomach is already full of butterflies, which should make dinner interesting. “What do I do if we can’t find anything to talk about?” My voice sounds so small.
Jordan slowly steps closer, cocking his head to one side as he goes. “You’ll find something. Talk about work if you have to.”
“What am I supposed to do while we’re at the gallery?”
“Exactly what you did with me at the gallery. Talk about how the paintings make you feel. Touch him to subtly let him know you’re there.” He gets close enough that his hand brushes mine. It’s barely a whisper of a touch, but I feel it everywhere. He smells so good, which must mean he showered before coming over. He put on a Henley again, a dark gray one that hugs his chest.
Gazing up at him, I can barely find my breath. “And if he wants to hold my hand?”
Jordan slides his fingers between mine. “If that’s what you want, you let him.”
“And…” I swallow. “What if, when he drops me off, he wants to walk me to the door? What do I do?”
Jordan’s eyebrows tug together, almost like he’s in pain. “That depends,” he says, his voice strained.
“On what?”
“On where you want the night to end. If you want to leave him in the car, you say goodnight to him before you open your car door. If you want him to follow, don’t say a word until he gets out first. And if you want…” His words fade, but he moves in closer. Too close. “You’ve been in this situation before. You don’t need me to show you how to send the right signals.”
He’ssending signals. I’m almost convinced of it. But why? How? Why now? And why do I want to answer the call?
“What do I do if he wants to kiss me?” I whisper right as Jordan’s nose touches mine.
He tenses, closing his eyes as he pulls back. “I’m not going to kiss you, Brook.”
My heart sinks. “Why not?”
He opens his eyes, and I feel like I can see through them right into his heart. My question just changed something. “You know why.”
A knock on the door makes me jump. Though Jordan tries to free his hand, I hold him tight. “Please don’t leave,” I beg him. “Will you be here when I get back?” That’s a terrible thing for me to ask, but I’m too scared about tonight. If I don’t know that he’ll be here to pick up the pieces when everything falls apart, I’m not sure I can go through with this.
Jordan looks like he’s desperate to say no, but he nods right as Mark knocks again. “I’ll be here.”
When I answer the door with shaking fingers, Mark smiles. Then his eyes slowly drift down my body, taking me all in, and his smile grows wider. “You look incredible, Briggs.”
