[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
I nodded wordlessly, and five minutes later, he returned and handed me a large bouquet
of delicate, pale pink roses. Thank you? I said, making it more of a question. Now, in addition
to the kiss and amazing declaration, I d somehow earned flowers too.
They re not adequate, he admitted. In traditional floral symbolism, orange or red would
have been more appropriate. But it was either these or some lavender ones, and you just
don t seem like a purple person.
Thank you, I said, more firmly this time. As I breathed in the roses sweet scent on the
way to Spencer s, I realized that no one had ever given me flowers before.
We reached the coffee shop soon thereafter. I got out of the car, and in a flash, Brayden
was right by my side so that he could shut the door for me. We went inside, and I was almost
relieved to see Trey working. His teasing would be a nice return to normality, seeing as my
life had just detoured into Crazyland.
Trey didn t even notice us at first. He was speaking intently to someone on the other side
of the counter, a guy a little older than us. The guy s tanned skin, black hair, and similar facial
features tipped me off pretty quickly that he and Trey were related. Brayden and I waited discreetly
behind the guy, and Trey finally looked up, an astonishingly grim expression on his
face that was pretty out of character. He looked surprised when he saw us, but then seemed
to relax a little.
Melbourne, Cartwright. Here for a little post-windmill caffeine?
You know I never drink caffeine after four, said Brayden. But Sydney needs something
for her teacher.
Ah, said Trey. The usual for you and Ms. T?
Yeah, but make mine iced this time.
Trey gave me a knowing look. Need to cool down a little, huh?
I rolled my eyes.
The guy ahead of us was still standing around, and Trey nodded toward him while
grabbing two cups. This is my cousin Chris. Chris, this is Sydney and Brayden.
This must have been Trey s perfect cousin. At a glance, I saw little that marked him as
better than Trey, except maybe his height. Chris was pretty tall. Not Dimitri-tall, but still tall.
Otherwise, they both had similar good looks and an athletic build. Chris even had some of the
same bruises and scrapes Trey often sported, making me wonder if there was a family connection
to sports as well. Regardless, Chris hardly seemed like anyone Trey should be intimidated
by, but then, I was biased by our friendship.
Where are you here from? I asked.
San Francisco, said Chris.
How long are you in town? asked Brayden.
Chris gave Brayden a wary look. Why do you want to know?
Brayden looked surprised, and I didn t blame him. Before either of us could figure out the
next move in the small-talk handbook, Trey hurried back over. Relax, C. They re just being
nice. It s not like they work for some spy agency.
Well, Brayden didn t.
Sorry, said Chris, not actually sounding that sorry. That was a difference between the
cousins, I realized. Trey would ve laughed off his mistake. He never actually would have
made the mistake. There were definitely different levels of friendliness in this family. A couple
weeks.
Neither Brayden nor I dared say anything after that, and mercifully, Chris chose that opportunity
to leave, with a promise to call Trey later. When he was gone, Trey shook his head
apologetically and set the completed coffees on the counter. I reached for my wallet, but
Brayden waved me away and paid.
Trey handed Brayden back his change. Next week s schedule s already up.
It is? Brayden glanced over at me. Mind if I go in the back room for a second? Figuratively,
of course.
Go ahead, I said. As soon as he was gone, I turned frantically to Trey. I need your help.
Trey s eyebrows rose. Words I never thought I d hear from you.
That made two of us, but I was at a loss, and Trey was my only source of help right now.
Brayden got me flowers, I declared. I wasn t going to mention the kiss.
And?
And, why d he do it?
Because he likes you, Melbourne. That s what guys do. They buy dinner and gifts, hoping
that in return you ll um, like them back.
But I argued with him, I hissed, glancing anxiously at the door Brayden had gone
through. Like, just before he got me the flowers, I gave him this big lecture about how he was [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
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I nodded wordlessly, and five minutes later, he returned and handed me a large bouquet
of delicate, pale pink roses. Thank you? I said, making it more of a question. Now, in addition
to the kiss and amazing declaration, I d somehow earned flowers too.
They re not adequate, he admitted. In traditional floral symbolism, orange or red would
have been more appropriate. But it was either these or some lavender ones, and you just
don t seem like a purple person.
Thank you, I said, more firmly this time. As I breathed in the roses sweet scent on the
way to Spencer s, I realized that no one had ever given me flowers before.
We reached the coffee shop soon thereafter. I got out of the car, and in a flash, Brayden
was right by my side so that he could shut the door for me. We went inside, and I was almost
relieved to see Trey working. His teasing would be a nice return to normality, seeing as my
life had just detoured into Crazyland.
Trey didn t even notice us at first. He was speaking intently to someone on the other side
of the counter, a guy a little older than us. The guy s tanned skin, black hair, and similar facial
features tipped me off pretty quickly that he and Trey were related. Brayden and I waited discreetly
behind the guy, and Trey finally looked up, an astonishingly grim expression on his
face that was pretty out of character. He looked surprised when he saw us, but then seemed
to relax a little.
Melbourne, Cartwright. Here for a little post-windmill caffeine?
You know I never drink caffeine after four, said Brayden. But Sydney needs something
for her teacher.
Ah, said Trey. The usual for you and Ms. T?
Yeah, but make mine iced this time.
Trey gave me a knowing look. Need to cool down a little, huh?
I rolled my eyes.
The guy ahead of us was still standing around, and Trey nodded toward him while
grabbing two cups. This is my cousin Chris. Chris, this is Sydney and Brayden.
This must have been Trey s perfect cousin. At a glance, I saw little that marked him as
better than Trey, except maybe his height. Chris was pretty tall. Not Dimitri-tall, but still tall.
Otherwise, they both had similar good looks and an athletic build. Chris even had some of the
same bruises and scrapes Trey often sported, making me wonder if there was a family connection
to sports as well. Regardless, Chris hardly seemed like anyone Trey should be intimidated
by, but then, I was biased by our friendship.
Where are you here from? I asked.
San Francisco, said Chris.
How long are you in town? asked Brayden.
Chris gave Brayden a wary look. Why do you want to know?
Brayden looked surprised, and I didn t blame him. Before either of us could figure out the
next move in the small-talk handbook, Trey hurried back over. Relax, C. They re just being
nice. It s not like they work for some spy agency.
Well, Brayden didn t.
Sorry, said Chris, not actually sounding that sorry. That was a difference between the
cousins, I realized. Trey would ve laughed off his mistake. He never actually would have
made the mistake. There were definitely different levels of friendliness in this family. A couple
weeks.
Neither Brayden nor I dared say anything after that, and mercifully, Chris chose that opportunity
to leave, with a promise to call Trey later. When he was gone, Trey shook his head
apologetically and set the completed coffees on the counter. I reached for my wallet, but
Brayden waved me away and paid.
Trey handed Brayden back his change. Next week s schedule s already up.
It is? Brayden glanced over at me. Mind if I go in the back room for a second? Figuratively,
of course.
Go ahead, I said. As soon as he was gone, I turned frantically to Trey. I need your help.
Trey s eyebrows rose. Words I never thought I d hear from you.
That made two of us, but I was at a loss, and Trey was my only source of help right now.
Brayden got me flowers, I declared. I wasn t going to mention the kiss.
And?
And, why d he do it?
Because he likes you, Melbourne. That s what guys do. They buy dinner and gifts, hoping
that in return you ll um, like them back.
But I argued with him, I hissed, glancing anxiously at the door Brayden had gone
through. Like, just before he got me the flowers, I gave him this big lecture about how he was [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]