Survivor by Kaye Draper Read Free Book Online Page A

Sometimes I wondered if
the damn thing was a good luck charm or a curse.  I could do without having so
much adversity to persevere against.
    He pulled my hand up and gently pressed his lips to
the underside of my wrist.  “You can’t see it, because it’s just a part of who
you are.  I mean it when I say you are amazing.  You have this spark.  I love
just watching the way you go about your life.”
    His deep green eyes met mine and I had trouble
breathing.  “If you think watching me muddle around is fun, you have some twisted
hobbies.”  I sounded breathless, even to my own ears.
    He grinned, unrepentant.  “Are you suggesting I find
better ways to pass my time?”  The whole world seemed to close down so that all
I could see was him.  Suddenly I could feel my heartbeat with every breath, as
if he were controlling it.  I leaned toward him without even willing myself to
move.  He lifted a graceful hand to push my hair back out of my face, tucking
it behind an ear.  I felt trapped, as if I couldn’t look away.  The sensation wasn’t
nearly as alarming as it should have been.  I was losing myself, like falling
down a bottomless hole.  Peter took a deep breath and I breathed with him,
wanting to be completely joined with him.
    He looked away, and the sensation started to melt. 
Ever so gently, he slipped his hand from mine and turned to pack up the rest of
my lunch things.  “I think it’s time for me to get going,” he said calmly.  He
shot a glance my way as if checking to make sure I was okay.  “You have a
meeting tomorrow, right?  I’ll drop you by.”
    I shook myself and struggled to focus.  My mind
sharpened and I nodded.  “Uh, yeah.”  I had a survivor support group to
attend.  What in the world had just happened?  “Um…Peter,” I started
hesitantly.
    He stopped his busywork and went still, his back to
me and his head bowed.  After a moment, he turned back and gave me a soft
smile.  “I’m sorry.”  His face had a soft expression somewhere between tenderness
and guilt.  “I didn’t mean to pull you under.  I swear I wasn’t trying to
do…anything to you.”
    I broke away from his gaze, spinning the bracelet
around my wrist absently.  “I’m fine,” I lied.  “I don’t know what you’re
talking about.”  I lifted my gaze to meet his and gave him a smile.  “I was
just going to ask if we could get ice cream after the meeting tomorrow.”
    He didn’t believe me, but he laughed and his smile
was genuine.  “Of course.  I haven’t tried ice cream in a long time.  It sounds
good.”
    I could have gone without the reminder that he
wasn’t human, but maybe that had been his intent.  What in the world was I
getting myself tangled up in?
    *****
    I wheeled myself into the meeting room, goodies and
a notebook piled on my lap.  I was later than usual, and most of the others had
already arrived. 
    “Melody!  Girl, I thought you weren’t coming.”  A
boisterous alto lifted above the other chatter in the room and I felt people
glance around before returning to their conversations.  Joanie was loud and
overwhelming, but we were all used to the tall, boisterous redhead. 
    “Sorry I’m late,” I said with a smile.  “Can you
help me put these out?”  I held up the box of homemade cookies.  The group only
met once a month, and we all brought snacks and drinks for the break.
    Joanie hurried over and helped me put my cookies out
on a couple of plastic trays.  She gave me an exaggerated look, taking in my
earrings and painstakingly curled hair.  “Did you have a date?”  She was all
eager hopefulness, and I couldn’t help but laugh, even though I knew I was
turning a deep red.  Everyone within a mile radius could hear her.
    “Uh, sort of,” I admitted averting my eyes.  “It was
just a picnic.”  Snagging a couple of cookies, I turned away and made my way to
a gap in the circle of folding chairs, left there for those of us who