Page 83 of Crossing the Brooklyn Briggs
We’ve both got work to do.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Brooklyn
I start small. While Ihave some pretty intriguing ideas, there’s still the lingering fear that I’ll fall apart if I run into Mark, so I have to do things that won’t risk me running into him until I know for sure I can handle seeing his smug face.
I wait in my car Friday morning until he pulls into the parking lot and heads inside, and then I work quickly, untwisting Oreos and sticking them to the outside of his car, just on the backside so I can avoid the cameras and so he probably won’t notice until he gets home. It’s an inconvenience for him but nothing damaging, and my only regret is how much delicious Oreo I just wasted on the man who probably doesn’t eat refined sugar because he’s too cool for processed foods.
At lunch, I order him a pizza that has nothing but beef on one side. No sauce, no cheese, just a handful of beef chunks that probably don’t taste like real meat.
During eighth period, I convince my class to sing Christmas songs while they work on their labs, knowing Mark has his prep period that hour and will absolutely hear my students as they sing their hearts out. (I once overheard Mark telling another teacher that he abhors Christmas music before Thanksgiving because the songs get stuck in his head too easily.)
None of the things I do will really make any sort of impact on the man who tried—and hopefully failed—to break my heart, so I head home with a clear conscience.
I haven’t heard from Jordan, but Houston mentioned Jordan has been helping him get his rental ready for new tenants, so I tell myself that Jordan will reach out when he’s not so busy. I can be patient while he’s still frustrated with me.
I don’t manage that quite as easily as I managed my pranks, but I’m trying.
Friday night, I get a call from Chad.
“Hi, Blondie.”
I’m instantly alert. He sounds stressed, and Chad never gets stressed. “What’s wrong?”
“Uh, it’s snowing. That’s not…” He groans. “Sorry. Micah just called me. She’s trapped at the Greenwood Lodge in the storm and doesn’t have power, and I’m kinda freaking out.”
The Greenwood Lodge? That’s where our mom married Micah’s dad. “What is she doing there?”
“Her company is planning an event, so they were scoping out the venue.”
“She’s not up there by herself?” I breathe a little easier. “Is she okay?”
“I hope so. Listen, I called because I’m probably not going to be able to get out of here for a couple of days. With the lodge at a lower elevation, I’m hoping she can get back to Sun City sooner. Can you check on her when she gets back? Her boss put her in charge, and you know how she is.”
My heart aches for my little sister. She’s a literal ball of sunshine no matter what the situation, but as soon as someone puts her in charge of something, she panics unless she has good support behind her. I hope she’s not having to handle everything by herself. “Yeah, of course. Are you okay? Do you have power?”
He sighs, but he sounds calmer now that he knows I can look after Micah. He definitely has a soft spot for her, which I love. “No, we don’t have power either, but we’re pretty well set up to last a few days.”
“We?”
“Don’t read into it. I’ve got both my neighbors here, and I doubt Hank is in any danger of me falling in love with him.”
I laugh. “Wait, is he that mystery writer who never leaves his house?”
“Yep. Nice guy.”
I’ve never met Hank, but Chad did when he bought his Laketown house, and he sounds as fascinating as his plotlines. He’s too young to be a hermit and always fills his books with romance. I feel like there’s a story there, though I’ll probably never hear it.
“Do you need anything, Chad?”
He sighs again, and I know he hates feeling useless while Micah is in need. It’s a good thing he never felt inclined to buy a snowmobile or he would probably be flying across the mountain right now to get to Micah. “No, I’ll be fine. Thanks, Blondie.”
When I hang up, there’s a text waiting from Jordan. My heart speeds up way too much to be healthy, but I don’t care.
Jordan: How’s the search for real Brooklyn coming, Queens?
I want to tell him about the pranks I pulled today, but something tells me he won’t be as proud of my accomplishments as I am. Pulling these pranks was still a way for me to get back at Mark, and I have a feeling Jordan wouldn’t like that.
