Free Beyond the Cherry Trees: The Cook Brothers Series by Heather D'Agostino Page B

her as she pulled out of the spot.
    I sat there staring as her tail lights grew smaller and smaller. As she disappeared in the direction we’d come, I felt a piece of me thaw. I’d kept the part of my heart that knew love frozen from anyone’s touch. Mia had been the only woman to ever see that part of me. When she’d walked away, she taken the key that opened that lock. Now, after spending the afternoon with her, she’d opened it back up. She’d let me feel bits and pieces of what we’d had all those years ago. I’d promised that I could be friends. I wanted anything she’d give me. That might sound desperate, by this was Mia we were talking about.
    Friends. I could do friends. No, who the fuck was I kidding? I could never be just friends. Mia would always be more, I just needed to make her remember. I needed her feel what I was feeling.
    “All set?” Carrie smiled as she placed the check on the end of the table.
    “Yeah,” I smiled as I tossed a few bills on top of it.
    “See ya, Ty.” She waved as I stood, grabbed my coat, and began walking back to the hardware store. I needed to think about how I was going to do this. She was keeping me at bay, and if I were smart, I would follow her lead.
    Just as I stepped onto the sidewalk and the cold hit me across the face, my phone rang. I pulled it from my pocket, expecting Gavin’s name to flash on the caller ID, instead ‘Chrissi” came up. “Fuck!” I hissed as I hit reject. The hopeful feeling I’d had not five seconds ago evaporated as Chrissi dumped ice water on me, bringing me back to my current situation. How was I ever going to tell Mia about the mess I was in now?
     
     

     
    I WAS NUTS pure and simple. I don’t know what possessed me to stop and help him. “You still love him, you idiot,” I muttered as I slowly made my way home. The snow had stopped coming down a while ago, but the roads were still pretty bad out near my parent’s house. The plows only made it out here about twice a day, so on days like today, when the snow fell constantly, it was easy for the roads to pile up.
    When I finally pulled in the driveway, I could see my dad pushing the snow blower along the sidewalk in front of our house. He’d cleared the driveway, and as he blew the sidewalk out, Daniel shoveled the steps. I couldn’t help but laugh as I parked and climbed out of the car. Dan looked pissed, and my father didn’t seem to care. I’m sure he was angry that I couldn’t help and all the work was falling on him, but honestly, if I weren’t hurt, I wouldn’t even be here.
    “Where have you been?” he grumbled as I hobbled up the steps past him.
    “Out,” I shrugged a shoulder as I maneuvered the best I could around him pausing only to open the door.
    “Doc called while you were out. Mom said something about you getting fitted for a boot,” he said. “I think they were talking about you not needing the crutches anymore.”
    “What?” I grinned slightly as I thought about how much easier it would be if I only had to deal with a boot. The break hadn’t been that bad, and I guess staying off it for two weeks had helped a lot.
    “Go ask her yourself.” He rolled his eyes as he turned away from me.
    “Well, you’re in a fine mood.” I rolled my eyes with the sarcastic bite.
    “Whatever. I’ve been stuck here while you’re out.” He finished the last step and paused as he ripped the hat off his head and ran his hand through his sweaty hair.
    “I’m going to the tree lighting tomorrow. Wanna come?” I tossed over my shoulder as I reached for the door knob.
    “Already going. I’ve got a date,” he grinned. “Mom said I could have the car for the night too, and I’m not driving you,” he shot back.
    “Well how am I supposed to get there?” I scoffed.
    “Call one of your friends,” he groaned. “Or better yet,” he grinned. “Call Ty. I’m sure he’d come and get ya.”
    “You know if I wasn’t hurt, I’d get you right now.”
    “Sure