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    What Happens in Berlin
    What Happens in Berlin
    What Happens in Berlin
    Ebook124 pages1 hour

    What Happens in Berlin

    By Jen McConnel

    ()

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    About this ebook

    Four countries.
    Three girls.
    Three loves.
    One adventure abroad they'll never forget.


    Interrupting a summer of fun, Joelle takes a detour to Berlin for her older brother's wedding. Spending time with her family is enough to make anyone go a little crazy. She's ready to lose it...until she meets Vi, a girl ready to turn her world upside down.

    Follow her journey in the third installment of the New Adult series, Adventures Abroad!
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherBloomsbury Publishing
    Release dateJun 16, 2015
    ISBN9781619637887
    What Happens in Berlin
    Author

    Jen McConnel

    Jen McConnel first began writing poetry as a child. Since then, her words have appeared in a variety of magazines and journals, including Sagewoman, PanGaia, and The Storyteller (where she won the people's choice 3rd place award for her poem, “Luna”). She is also a former reviewer for Voices of Youth Advocates (VOYA), and a proud member of SCBWI, NCWN, and SCWW. A Michigander by birth, she now lives and writes in the beautiful state of North Carolina. When she isn't crafting worlds of fiction, she teaches writing composition at a community college. Once upon a time, she was a middle school teacher, a librarian, and a bookseller, but those are stories for another time. Follow Jen on Twitter @Jen_McConnel, and visit www.jenmcconnel.com to learn more.

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      Book preview

      What Happens in Berlin - Jen McConnel

      <3

      Chapter One

      My brother Charlie had a death wish.

      It’s not because he joined the army right after he graduated from State, although that sure pissed Mom off, and it seemed like a stupid idea to me, considering how many active war zones there still are around the world. So far, however, the army has been a relatively safe decision.

      But then he went and got himself engaged to some foreign girl, and Mom about lost it.

      Who does she think she is? Mom waved the cream-colored invitation angrily in front of my face.

      I shrugged. His fiancée, I guess.

      She glared at me. What kind of girl gets engaged to a boy without meeting his family?

      Isn’t it the guy who’s supposed to ask the girl’s family for permission?

      Mom wouldn’t answer, so I tried another tactic.

      You’re just mad because he hasn’t called home much.

      No, I’m not! She slammed the invitation down on the counter. I’m mad because we don’t know anything about this girl. How could he do this?

      I leaned over and slid the stack of fancy papers over to me. Maybe he loves her?

      Mom snorted, and I skimmed the invitation. I was a bit surprised, too; Charlie usually told me things before he told Mom and Dad, but the wedding invitation was the first I’d heard about any of this. I was hurt, but I didn’t want to admit it, not with Mom acting like a child already.

      Germany? I raised an eyebrow. This says they’re getting married in Berlin.

      Mom didn’t say anything, but I looked up at her, excited.

      Oh my God, we’re going to Germany?

      What did you think, Joelle? He’s marrying some German girl. Of course her family would want the wedding there.

      I jumped up and hugged her tight around the middle. But Mom, seriously, we’re going to Europe?

      She tried to grimace, but a smile slipped onto her face. I know how much you’ve always wanted to go abroad. I’m not thrilled with the reason, but— she patted my back—yes, we’re going to Europe.

      I shrieked in excitement. That’s epic! Oh my God, wait ’til I tell Mandy!

      Your brother says the wedding is in July. Pops and I thought we’d go over at the end of June to help with all the proceedings.

      I stopped dancing around the kitchen. Did you tell Charlie that?

      Mom smiled thinly. No. But then again, he didn’t tell us about this girl, so fair is fair.

      My excitement soured. Mom, shouldn’t you ask him if he’d like us to come so early?

      I won’t ask my own child for permission to travel. Besides, she added, folding the invitation up and sticking it back in its envelope, he’ll be busy with work. I doubt he’ll have any leave to use before the wedding, not if they want a honeymoon. He might not even notice we’re there.

      Right. I’m going to wear that blue dress we bought last summer. Fashion was usually a safe subject to distract Mom, but I decided I’d e-mail Charlie that night and warn him about her plans.

      Oh no, you’re not. You only have one brother, Joelle, and he’ll only be married once. She sniffed. Well, at least I hope this only happens once.

      So what should I wear?

      She smiled, and I could tell I’d successfully distracted her. Why don’t we go shopping?

      I glanced at the kitchen clock. Damn. I’d really love to, Mom, but I’m late for my shift.

      Her face fell, but she just shrugged. Fine. We have plenty of time to get ready before the trip.

      I kissed her cheek as I grabbed my keys and headed for the door. I can’t wait!

      My cherry-red Civic was waiting patiently for me in front of the garage, and I hopped into the leather seats, relieved to have an excuse to escape. Living at home for two years while I figured things out hadn’t been too awful, but lately, Mom’s mood swings were starting to get to me. As I drove, I rolled the windows down and cranked up the radio, trying to repress my irritation with her. The problem was, I sort of got why she was so upset.

      Charlie had always been her favorite, but unlike me, he never even considered living at home and going to a community college. He was out of the house like a shot after he graduated from high school, and it seemed like every time I turned around, Charlie had found another way to step away from our family and prove that he was an adult. First the army, and now this. I shook my head and pressed down on the gas.

      I wanted to stay annoyed with him, but it was hard. Even though he’s seven years older than me, I’ve always adored him. So what if he hadn’t told any of us that things were serious with this girl? At least he was happy, right?

      And, I thought as a smile spread across my face, because of him, I would finally get the chance to travel! I sped up and pulled onto the highway, fitting my car into the rapid traffic without a problem. I’d always wanted to travel, but I had never been quite sure where to start.

      Just like with college, I mused as I drove. When I graduated from high school, I could have gone to State just like Charlie; I had my acceptance letter and everything. I’d gotten into a couple other schools, as well, but I didn’t really know what I wanted to do. So I picked Tech instead and decided to live at home for a couple of years, taking my gen eds and figuring things out. Pops was disappointed, I know, but I think Mom was relieved; she missed Charlie, and I don’t know if she would have been ready to let me go.

      A truck blared its horn at me, and I realized I’d started to drift in my lane. Speeding up, I got out of his way and took the next exit, making a sharp turn into Beautiful Bean, the coffee shop I’d been working at since graduation.

      I pulled my black apron out of the backseat and hurried inside. Mandy was behind the counter, juggling cups and trying to work the espresso machine, and I slipped in beside her to help. Sorry I’m late.

      She blew a chunk of electric blue hair out of her eyes. S’okay. It wasn’t bad until, like, ten minutes ago, and then we got slammed.

      I nodded, hurrying to complete the drinks. Want me on register?

      Would you? I’m sick of talking to people today.

      I grinned. That’s why I love working with you. You’re such a ray of sunshine!

      Mandy stuck her tongue out at me, but she smiled. Bitch. Get to work!

      Mandy and I had sort of been flirting for a few months, but I wasn’t ready to make a move. Besides, I still hadn’t figured out how to tell my folks that girls got my heart pounding as much as guys, so even though I’d fantasized about snuggling up with her in the back freezer sometimes, I tried to keep a careful distance from Mandy.

      She flicked me with a dish towel, and I dodged, laughing, before I turned around to the register. An older man in a business suit was standing there, staring up at the menu in confusion, and I smiled at him. What can I get you?

      He hesitated for another minute, but then he ordered a cup of French roast.

      That was the slowest moment of my shift. For the next six hours, I rang up orders, made change, helped Mandy make drinks, and almost slipped on melted ice when I went around the corner to bus the tables in the seating area. Luckily, I caught myself, but I was still panting and tired by the time I headed out to my car.

      The parking lot was dark and deserted, and for once, I didn’t mind the busted streetlight. Stars stretched overhead, and I tipped my head back, sucking in the warm night air and studying the sky. I’d missed Charlie so much when he first moved out, but now I’d sort of gotten used to it. Still, getting married in Germany felt so . . . permanent. Would he ever want to come home again? A flicker zipped overhead, and I caught it out of the corner of my eye. Shaking off my melancholy, I blew a kiss to the falling star, and old habit Charlie and I had come up with when we were kids.

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