Sweet Hill Homecoming Read Online Free Page B

“But it’s Saturday.”
    Kyle smiled. “Coach said I played well last night. I’m officially first string receiver.”
    “Kyle that’s amazing!” Mia said and hugged him across the counter.  
    She wished she could have seen him play. Since they just moved back, he started a little late in the school year and had to catch up with both studies and football, but so far, he was doing great.    
    “Yeah, even though I joined the team late in the season, he said I have been working hard and am the best receiver on the team. We’re looking good for playoffs and there will be a few college scouts if we make it. Coach thinks I have a real shot at getting a scholarship.”
    Mia’s chest stilled, a gust of air caught in her windpipe. Kyle was smiling from ear to ear and looking so happy. So healthy and hopeful, he made her want to hug him for an eternity.  
    Water lined Mia’s eyes and she knew right then this moment was the reason she came back to Sweet Hill. For Kyle. There was a light in his eyes she hadn’t seen since their mom died. He had always been good, exceptionally good at football, but here he was finally thriving.  
    “I’m so proud of you, Kyle.” Mia said and the color on his cheeks just turned deeper red when he glanced at Jen then back at Mia.  
    For a seventeen-year-old that was six-foot and about twice Mia’s weight, he did blush easily. They also looked nothing alike. Being that they had different fathers, Mia tended to look like hers and Kyle looked like his. Light brown hair, tall, dimples and very much the boy next door.  
    Their mom had divorced Randy, when Kyle was three and he never bothered to show up since. After that, Tammy Blake went through men like candy. Thanks to her, Mia learned young how to flirt and get what you want from men. Unfortunately, it wasn’t until she was a little older she realized that while she thought she was using men to get what she wanted, it was her being used. Which was why, outside of her former job, she had stayed away from them for the past couple years.  
    “I better get going,” Kyle said. “Got to go bench. Got up to two hundred pounds.” He glanced at Jen and Mia was pretty sure he was flexing.  
    “I’ll be off at three,” Mia said quickly, before she giggled a little at her brother’s not too subtle hints.  
    “Okay, see you at home.” He left the café and Jen smiled at Mia.
    “He’s a good kid,” Jen said and took a sip of coffee.  
    “Yeah, he is.”
    “And I think he likes me. I don’t know, I can’t tell though,” Jen joked. Mia laughed.  
    “He’s sweet. Don’t break his heart okay?”  
    “I would never. In ten years, he’s all mine.”  
    Okay, that made Mia roll her eyes again but Jen changed the subject.  
    “Well, since Annie is working the later shift, we were talking about going out tonight. It’s Saturday after all. Want to hit The Dusk Bucket?”  
    Mia smiled. The Dusk Bucket was a sport slash karaoke bar that apparently got taken over by the Everson brothers. Two guys Mia went to school with.  
    “I don’t know. Kyle will be home and—”
    “And he’s a seventeen-year-old boy. You really think he wants to spend his Saturday night with his sister? Come on, you haven’t been out since you moved back. It will be good for you to integrate.”
    “Honestly, Jen, I can’t afford it.” It hurt to say it out loud, but that was the case.
    “That’s totally fine. Cam Everson is one of the bar owners. He accidentally left his wallet at the bank and I’m bringing it back to him tonight. He said the first two rounds are on him.”
    Mia bit her lip. The idea of getting out and de-stressing was appealing. Dressing in something besides ripped jeans and tee-shirts also sounded nice.  
    God I miss my stilettos.  
    Her head perked up.  
    “Can we dress up?”  
    Jen smiled. “Well, duh. How else do you troll?”  
    “I’m not trolling for men.”  
    Jen shrugged. “Maybe you should be. This is