Page 91 of Crossing the Brooklyn Briggs
“Accidental baby.”
Boy, am I glad the service in this restaurant is terrible and there hasn’t been a single sign of a waitress to interrupt this delightful conversation.
“You weren’t an accident,” I argue, though I’ve dropped my voice so the family a couple of tables down won’t hear.
Mateo scoffs, twirling his knife on the table. “There’s nine years between Alex and me. Pretty sure I wasn’t part of the family plan.”
“Mom cried the day she found out she was pregnant with you.”
“Because she didn’t want me.”
“Because she’d been waiting almost a decade for you! They tried for years and thought they’d be stuck with just Alex and me for the rest of their lives.” Groaning, I run my free hand through my hair and shake my head. “Clearly our family needs to work on our communication skills. I thought you knew.”
Mateo finally looks up, enough emotion in his face that I think he might actually start crying. I don’t blame him. Did he really think all his life that he wasn’t desperately wanted? “I didn’t know,” he croaks.
“See? This is why you should have come to lunch with me instead of glowering at me. Ow!” I glare at Brooklyn, who threw her elbow into my ribs again. “I’m just saying this conversation might have happened sooner if we’d—”
“When?” she asks. “With all your free time that your job gives you?”
Her comment is a bit of a gut punch, but it doesn’t land as hard as I would have expected. She’s not wrong. “Low blow, Queens. I respect that.”
She wrinkles her nose in a combination smile and sneer that drives me crazy. I simultaneously want to challenge her to a prank war and kiss the sneer right off her face. I could probably do both and come out the victor either way.
“Can you two wait until we eat before you start making out?” Based on the disgusted look on Mateo’s face as he looks between us, he’s not joking. “School is about to get all sorts of awkward.”
“I hope so,” I murmur, which sends crimson rushing into Brooklyn’s face until she’s beet red. She doesn’t look away from me, like I expect, which makes her even more tempting. Despite our reluctant audience, it couldn’t hurt to test the waters and give her one quick kiss, right?
“Hi! Welcome to Rita’s Family Restaurant!” An all-too energetic waiter appears with a beaming smile and a bounce in his step, speaking with full enthusiasm even though I’m scowling at his interruption. “My name is Charlie, and I’ll be your server today. Here are some waters for you guys. Is there anything else I can get you to drink before I take your order?”
“Maybe a sippy cup for the kid,” I grumble.
Brooklyn and Mateo kick me at the same time, but they’re both smiling. “He’s paying,” Mateo says, “so I’ll have a coffee and a Coke.”
I raise an eyebrow. “Both?”
He shrugs. “My level of genius runs on caffeine. Deal with it.”
Honestly, he probably is a genius if he’s tutoring his own classmatesandauditing college classes for the fun of it. Why doesn’t he try to get the college credit, though? That would be a way better use of his money.
“And for you, miss?”
“Hot chocolate,” Brooklyn says sweetly.
“I’m good with water,” I mumble, taking a sip as if I need to demonstrate. Charlie leaves to get the drinks, and we’re left in silence. I drink a little deeper, searching for a topic of conversation.
“Mateo, did Jordan ever tell you about the time he got sent to the principal’s office for proposing to his favorite teacher?”
I choke, water going everywhere as Brooklyn’s words hit me. I can’t breathe as I try to cough the water out of my lungs, but Brooklyn only smirks at me.
Mateo’s eyes are wide. “When he didwhat?”
“Proposed. Got down on one knee with a ring and a flower.” Brooklyn sounds serious, but the mischief in her eyes is unmistakable.
Mateo frowns as he looks between us. “You’re joking, aren’t you?”
“I wish she was,” I mumble after one final cough to clear my lungs. “I can’t believe you just brought that up.”
Tossing her napkin at me, Brooklyn shrugs. “I thought it would make Mateo feel closer to you.”
