Page 111 of Crossing the Brooklyn Briggs
“Haveyoueaten lunch yet?” I ask before she gets very far. “I could make us something.”
She smiles. “I would love that.”
Maybe I don’t need to take care of her, but I’m going to soak up every minute I can get with my mom before my dad claims all of her attention.
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Brooklyn
When I hear the knockat my door, I practically leap over my couch to get to it, speaking before I’ve even opened the door. “You’re finally—Houston!”
Houston frowns and glances behind me, as if he’s expecting to see someone else in my basement. “I’m finally what? Are you okay? You seem breathless.”
I let out a nervous laugh. “I’m just excited about tonight.” Excited and terrified, though it seems like our big conversation with Houston is going to happen sooner than later; Jordan will be here any second.
Houston flashes a grim smile as he steps inside and sits on the back of the couch. “Yeah, it’s been a while since Kit and Skyler have been in Sun City. Think they’ll actually want to do trivia night?”
“I didn’t think we were going to give them a choice.”
He laughs, but there’s no real amusement in it. Something is wrong. My always sunny brother looks miserable.
“Hou? Are you okay?”
“Huh?” He looks up at me, eyebrows pulled low. “Yeah, I’m fine. Not sure how I feel about Micah bringing a boy, but…”
That can’t be what’s bothering him, but I’ll play along. “I’ve actually met Fischer.” And he is absolutely not a boy. Micah’s coworker is a certifiable man who is deeply interested in our sister, whether she knows it or not. “He seems nice,” I add. Maybe a bit gruff, but so is Chad. I only interacted with him for a minute or two when he dropped Micah off after the storm, but I think he would fit right in with our family.
Houston nods. “That’s good. Too bad Chad isn’t here to intimidate him, huh? It’ll be weird doing trivia without him, but he seems to be doing well in Laketown. Think he’ll ever come home?”
Okay, now I know something is wrong. Houston and Chad get along fine, but I don’t know if I’ve ever heard Houston say anything about missing our brother.
I grab a pillow, holding it cocked and ready. “Tell me what’s wrong, or I swing.”
His eyes go wide and dart to the pillow. “What?”
“You heard me.”
“I asked Darcy out and she said no.” He says it quickly, all of the words smashed together like he’s afraid of them. “And I am way more disappointed than I should be. Happy?”
I frown. “No, of course not. I’m sorry, Hou.”
“I thought maybe there was something there, but when she said she had to work tonight, I—”
I swing the pillow right into his head, nearly knocking him back onto the couch
“Ow! What was—”
“Having to work is not the same as a rejection, you wingnut!” And here I was feeling sorry for him. “Have you never had someone tell you they’re busy before?”
I’m concerned that Houston doesn’t have a response to that, though I shouldn’t be surprised. From the day he was drafted, he rose quickly to stardom, and I don’t want to imagine the number of women who canceled plans or missed important events because Houston Briggs asked them on a date.
My door opens before I can explain to him how the real world works, and Jordan pokes his head into the basement. “I thought I saw your piece of junk truck out there,” he says to Houston, though his eyes jump to me.
I shrug.
Houston sighs. “Apparently I’m overreacting, even though it feels like I’m going to be alone forever.” He’s definitely just being dramatic now. “What are you doing here?”
Jordan shrugs as he comes inside, keeping some distance between us. “I was in the area and thought I would give Queens a ride. I know how much she hates driving in the rain.”
