Read Online Beyond the Cherry Trees: The Cook Brothers Series by Heather D'Agostino - Free Book Online Page A

car and leave her there. It was a small town, so it wasn’t like we wouldn’t see each other again, but I was already missing her. This ten minute drive was a tease. “Wanna get breakfast?” I smiled hopefully as I put my hand on the door.
    “I already ate at home.” She looked surprised by my invitation.
    “Then what are you doing out here?” I waved my arms at the blustery weather outside.
    “I needed an escape. I was going to the studio,” she mumbled as she turned away from me.
    “You can’t dance. What did you think you were going to get done there?” I started to reach for her, but when she pulled away from me, I thought better of it. She wasn’t mine, and it seemed that she was trying to subtly remind me of that.
    “I don’t know what I was thinking. I picked you up, didn’t I?” she snapped and there it was, the sting after the sweet. Mia had two sides, a sweet side and sour side. They went hand and hand with her personality. Whenever you saw one, the other wasn’t too far behind.
    “How about coffee then?” I pushed open the door and climbed out. I stood there, one arm on top of the car, the other holding the door as I leaned in and waited for her answer.
    “I could do coffee.” She gave me a sad smile. “I’m a mess though, Ty. Look at me,” she waved her hand down the front of her chest.
    “I am,” I smirked.
    “Stop,” she hissed as her cheeks reddened once again.
    “No one’s going to be out today unless they’re nuts. The diner is probably half empty. Just come on,” I waved my arm, hoping she’d give in. I missed this. I missed her, and with everything that had been going on in my life lately, it felt nice to have something normal back. We might not be together, but I could pretend that Mia and I were something, friends maybe?
    “Fine,” she huffed as she turned off the car. I watched her dig around in the purse she had in the back seat until she produced a brush. She yanked it through her hair a few time before tossing it back in her purse and twisting her hair in a knot at the base of her neck. There was the Mia I recognized. A bun was her signature hairstyle, and the way she’s worn it for most of the time I’ve known her.
    She rolled her eyes as she peered at her reflection in the rearview mirror before tossing her keys in her purse, shoving the door open, and fumbling to get herself along with her crutches upright.
    It took me a minute to jump into action, but as she fought with the door, I raced around to her side. “Sorry.” I chastised myself for not helping as I reached for her arm. She shook me off and scowled.
    “I’m not helpless.” She tugged away from my grasp as she moved the crutches forward and began hopping toward the diner.
    “Let me tell Tay about the truck, and then I’ll be right over. Get us a table, K?” I shouted at her back. She nodded and shook her head like she was mad at me before I sighed and turned to enter the hardware store.
     
     

     
     
    “WHAT THE HELL took you so long?” Taylor’s head popped up from around a corner as I tugged my hat from my head once again. “I was ready to send Trev out looking for you.”
    “Very funny,” I grumbled. “You might need to call Mike,” I cringed as the words fell from my lips.
    “Why? What’d you do?” Taylor stared at me as he narrowed his eyes. Now I knew why CJ spilled his guts to his dad so easily. Taylor had this look down, and he was one scary dude when he wanted to be.
    “Well,” I started, backing up as I shrugged, “your truck might be in a ditch out near the Callahan place.” I placed my hand on the door to the store, ready to bolt like I did as a kid.
    “Damn you Ty!” Taylor growled as he threw his head back in exasperation. “How old are you, sixteen?”
    “Very funny. It’s bad out there.” I exaggerated by waving my arms around. Taylor came walking down the aisle with his arms loaded down with boxes of Christmas lights. “I can help with that,” I started