Page 47 of Crossing the Brooklyn Briggs
He would know. He lost his wife to cancer five years ago, so he knows exactly how hard it is to watch someone go through the treatments.
And if that was the real reason I was distracted, I could move on from this conversation. But it isn’t. And I can’t.
Groaning, I rub the back of my neck and shut my eyes tight. “I did something I shouldn’t have.”
“That sounds ominous. Should I be keeping an eye out for the cops in case you need to run?”
His joke eases some of the tension in my shoulders. “What kind of a guy do you take me for?”
Rick shrugs. “Not the kind who breaks laws. So, what did you do that’s got you disemboweling the velociraptor?”
I glance at the dino shrub, cocking my head to the side. “I thought it was a T. Rex.”
“Nah. You made it more raptor.” When I raise an eyebrow, he laughs. “My kid’s into dinosaurs. Anyway, give me the details so we can get on with our lives. Those flamingos aren’t going to power wash themselves.”
Honestly, this client is probably the strangest one we’ve worked with so far, and the eclectic yard is my favorite. He pays well too, which is an added bonus, and I always make sure I am one of the guys shaping dinosaurs and clearing weeds from around the dozens of gnomes because it’s too fun to give it to the other guys.
Rick clears his throat when I take too long to respond.
I roll my eyes. “I flirted with Houston’s sister, okay?”
“Okay.”
When he doesn’t say anything else, I frown at him. “That’s it?”
“I was waiting for the problem part.”
“That was the problem.”
“Flirting is a problem?”
“When it’s my best friend’s twin sister, yeah.”
“Says who?”
Says every bro code ever, but I’m not sure if Rick is the kind of guy who has a bro code. He was entirely devoted to his wife—still is—and couldn’t care less about what other people think he should or shouldn’t do when he knows he’s right. It’s one of the reasons I hired him, knowing he would always do the best job regardless of my opinions.
But that’s not helping me right now. I pinch my nose, grateful that the other guys are working on the backyard right now so they don’t jump into this conversation. I need rational advice, and I can’t trust the others to take this seriously.
“Here’s the thing about Houston Briggs,” I mutter. “He’s the most loyal person I’ve ever known, and the only thing he loves more than baseball is his family. Especially Brooklyn.”
Rick folds his arm. He’s got the serious dad look down, which makes me want to listen to him. “If you’re about to tell me you’re not good enough for her, I’ll slap you right here and now.”
I put my hand on my cheek, preemptively feeling the sting. “Not where I was going, but thanks for the warning.”
“Where were you going, then?”
“He may seem like the kind of guy who has a million friends, but Houston doesn’t make attachments lightly. He doesn’t trust people to stick around, so he doesn’t let himself care.” I point a finger at him. “And if you ever tell this to anyone, I’ll turn Houston’s lawyers on you before you can collect your tip money.”
Rick doesn’t even flinch. “Sounds like you dating his sister would be a good thing.”
“It would be horrible.” Even if I like the idea.
“Why?”
“Because if things went badly and we broke up, Houston would have to choose between us, and I would be out a best friend.”
He rolls his eyes. “Then get a new best friend.”
