Page 60 of Forbidden Dreams
"It's a busy time of year, but we should slow down and enjoy the season," Morgan said with a smile.
"What did you do to my brother?" I asked Reina.
Reina grinned, squeezing his arm. "We're just happy."
"Guys, come look at this one," Maverick called over, and the happy couple joined him.
"It's so weird how everyone is happy," Cooper mumbled.
"Yeah," I said absentmindedly, walking down the aisle, looking at the trees as we passed. "If this is your first tree, we should make it a good one.” Then I paused. "Do you have decorations?”
"I was going to just put some lights up."
"That could work." I shouldn't be involved in decorating his tree. That's what a girlfriend would do, and I wasn't that.
He paused in front of a larger tree, maybe eight or nine feet. He walked around it. "What do you think about this one?"
I followed him, touching the branches and not seeing any bare spots. "This one is great."
"You want to help me cut it down?"
I shrugged. "Sure."
"Anyone have a saw I could borrow?" Cooper called to the guys.
Morgan and Maverick approached, handing Cooper a saw.
I stood by and watched them work together to take down the tree. I was usually so irritated by Cooper's presence that I didn't see him for who he was. A guy who'd grown up in a bad situation, who'd come to our family for a safe place. I felt bad that I gave him such a hard time growing up.
When it was on the trolley, Morgan and Maverick moved away, and Cooper asked, "We have to find one for you. Maybe a little shorter to fit on the porch."
"The pine will give the porch a nice smell," I said.
Cooper inclined his head. "I heard that you filled the porch with greenery."
I nodded. "I love plants."
"I didn't know that about you," Cooper said.
"I didn't either. I bought a plant from that new store in town, and when it didn't die, I kept going back for more. It helps that the owner is so knowledgeable about plants. She helps me when I have issues."
"I bet the porch looks nice with plants."
"It's my favorite spot when I have time to hang out at home. Lately, I spend most of my time in the office."
He paused before another tree, touching the branches. "I have that problem too."
"We have a lot more in common than we ever thought." In a lot of ways, we both thought we were underdogs with something to prove.
He moved around a tree. "What do you think of this one?"
"I love it." The blue-green hue gave it a magical feel. And it was the perfect size for the porch.
He looked over at me. "You want this one?"
"Why not?" I usually enjoyed the holidays at my parents, but I had a job now. My own apartment. This was part of growing up. I could entertain at my place now, even if it was small.
"Do you have decorations?" he asked as he knelt on the ground, the saw in hand.
