Brooklyn
Wow.The entryway to Penny’s apartment building was insane. I looked back down at the handwritten note Penny had given me. This was definitely the right place. I felt like I was back in high school. In a world I knew I didn’t belong in. I pressed my lips together. Well, maybe I’d belonged once. For a little bit.
It reminded me a lot of Felix’s apartment. All clean lines and modern décor. I smiled to myself. I wondered how Felix was doing. I’d been thinking of him a lot ever since Kennedy’s friend Tanner had asked me about him. Did Felix still live in the city, or had he moved somewhere new? There were a lot of people I’d love to catch up with. But…it was probably a bad idea. I still had no idea if I was staying.
I looked down at Jacob. He was staring at the place in awe. I squeezed his hand and he smiled up at me. Who was I kidding? I’d stay as long as he kept smiling. I just kept telling myself I might leave so I wouldn’t have to call Matt. Or text him. Or…something.
I’d promised Kennedy I would. But I just didn’t know what to say. I’d typed out a few texts, but I’d deleted them all before sending. I knew she thought it mattered. But I wasn’t so sure. My dad had tried to reach out to him and he hadn’t cared. I didn’t know why I was even worried about sending a text. It was unlikely that Matt would even bother to respond.
“Mommy,” Jacob said and tugged on my hand.
God, I’d completely spaced out. I’d been doing that a lot recently.
Jacob held my hand as we walked across the stretch of marble floor up to the concierge desk.
“Hi,” I said. “I’m supposed to be meeting Penny.”
“Of course.” The concierge said with a smile before he glanced down at his notepad. “Name?”
“I’m not sure what her last name is.”
“Oh, sorry, I meant your name, ma’am.”
“Oh.” I laughed. “Brooklyn Miller?” I didn’t know why it came out as a question.
“Brooklyn Miller.” He looked back down at his notebook with a frown. And then he moved to look at his computer. “I’m so sorry, but you’re not on the list. If you could give me one moment please.” He lifted up his phone. “There’s a Ms. Miller here to see you.” He paused and stared at me. “Yes, she has blonde hair. And there is indeed a young boy with her.”Pause.“Very well.” He hung up the phone and smiled. “She’s expecting you. It’s the penthouse suite.”
“Oh. Okay.” I didn’t know if I was supposed to go or wait for him to go with me. “Do I just…go up?”
“Yes, it’s the top button, Ms. Miller.”
“Thank you so much.” Jacob and I hurried off to the elevators.
“Mommy,” Jacob said.
“Yes?”
“Wherearewe?” When the elevators dinged open, he jumped back, dropping my hand.
And I realized he’d never been on an elevator before. He’d never even seen one. “We’re visiting your friend from the zoo, remember?”
“Sí.”
I smiled. He seemed to prefer Spanish these days. “This will take us up to see them.”
“Noooo,” he said.
“Jacob, I promise it’s safe.”
“Nunca.” He took another step back.
How could I resist him when he said nunca in that cute little accent he’d somehow adopted from Mrs. Alcaraz? “Okay, sweet boy. We’ll take the stairs.” I lifted him into my arms and carried him into the stairwell.
The penthouse was a long way up. And I’d broken a sweat a long time before we finally exited onto what I hoped was the correct floor. There were only two doors. One labeled security and the other with no label at all.
So Penny lived in a penthouse in a luxury apartment building? With what appeared to be her own security. I’d definitely just accidentally been thrust back into the world of the elite. There was a little part of me that wanted to hightail it back down those stairs. But a much bigger part of me wanted a glass of water. And Penny had seemed so kind. Just because I’d never belong in her world, it didn’t mean Jacob couldn’t be friends with Scarlett. Maybe they could even go to the same school.
My stomach churned. God, I guess I really was planning on staying. I’d text Matt tonight. I’d just do it and get it over with and everyone could just keep on going with their lives.
