Read Online Begin Again by Christy Newton - Free Book Online Page B

mistake. That she still loves me.”
    Ryan hoped Kate wouldn’t suck his friend in again; she was bad news. “What do
you
want?”
    Jacob sat back with one leg propped up and tugged on the hem of his jeans. “I don’t know. I still love her.”
    Ryan rubbed his chin. “Have you thought about counseling?”
    â€œMaybe. What do you think?”
    He couldn’t ignore the hope in his friend’s eyes. “I think you should follow your heart.”
    Jacob nodded. “Enough about me. Who has your attention in this town besides all the rats, birds, and lizards?”
    Ryan smiled. “Her name is Maisie Scott. She’s amazing, and I’m hoping she feels the same way about me.”
    He laughed. “Women always feel that way about you.”
    â€œYeah, but she’s different.”
    â€¢ • •
    â€œWhat’s wrong with you today?” Lola asked, eyeing Maisie from across the diner’s counter. “From the way you and Ryan were looking at each other yesterday, I thought you’d be in a great mood today.”
    Maisie sighed and filled the coffeemaker. “I don’t want to talk about it.” She glanced at the clock. Ten more minutes and Ryan would be walking through those doors for his apple pie.
    She popped a bubble. “Well snap out of it, will you?”
    Maisie drew her eyebrows together and turned to look at Lola.
    Lola shook her head. “I’m sorry. It’s just that ever since Ryan started coming in the diner, you’ve acted alive. I don’t want you to regress.”
    â€œYou don’t understand.” Maisie walked away to fill her last order of the night. As she was carrying the tray of food back to the table, she realized Ryan hadn’t come in. If she was avoiding him, why did the thought of not seeing him have her in knots?
    â€¢ • •
    After she cleaned Boots’s cage and fed him a peanut, Maisie decided to take a hot shower. Ryan hadn’t shown up at the diner. Had she successfully pushed him away? Sadness filled her heart as steam filled up the bathroom. She leaned against the tile wall of the shower with her head hanging down and watched the suds go down the drain.
    â€œMaisie!” her sister called from the other side of the door.
    It wasn’t like her sister to come down here at night, especially when she was in the shower. She reached down and shut off the water. “Yeah?”
    â€œRyan’s upstairs in my living room.”
    Maisie’s mouth dropped open. “Uh, I’ll be up as soon as I’m dressed.”
    â€œOkay!”
    Oh my goodness, he’s here!
Probably to give me the bunny. Or to see me!
Maisie dried off as fast as she could and threw on a pair of shorts and T-shirt. She looked in the mirror at her wet hair. No time to dry it. She pulled it into a ponytail and swiped on some lip gloss and eyeliner. In a hurry, she skipped the powder she usually brushed over her freckles to lighten them. After a deep breath, she walked up the stairs to find Ryan sitting on the sofa with her sister and Sam.
    â€œFeeling better?” Ryan asked looking up at her with a sheepish smile.
    She had almost forgotten she’d told him she was sick yesterday. “Mmm-hmm.”
    â€œGood.” He stood up and pointed to a cage about four times the size of her hamster’s. “I brought your rabbit over and supplies you’ll need to start out. Would you like me to carry it downstairs for you?”
    Ryan looked amazing in his red polo shirt and blue jeans. His blond hair curled over his ears, making him look adorable. He was so masculine yet had that boyish charm. Maisie realized she was staring when her sister cleared her throat to make a point.
    â€œSure, that’d be great.” Maisie followed him down to her apartment.
    â€œWhere do you want to keep him?” Ryan asked looking around with the cage in his arms.
    â€œHow about on the