The Fourth Sunrise by H. T. Night Read Free Book Online

There is something I don’t trust about him. I can’t put my finger on it.’
    “‘ Are we seriously still having a political conversation?’ she asked.
    “‘ I take it that it’s not your favorite subject.’
    “ She said, ‘My mom is Democrat and my dad is a Republican. So, I hear a lot of this at home.’
    “‘ What would you like to talk about?’
    “‘ I’d like to talk about how delicious the pizza is.’ Christine winked at me to let me know things were okay.
    “‘ Then let’s discuss toppings,’ I joked.
    ‘“ Don’t get me started about toppings.’”
     
     
     
    Chapter Five
     
     
    Present Day – Delta, Colorado - Coffee Shop, 11:00 p.m.
     
    “ We sat there for hours talking and laughing, and really living every moment of it. I had never had this sort of connection with any other person in my short life. I was enjoying this so much that the time had gotten away from me. I was breaking the team curfew rules, after all, and there was the nagging feeling in the back of my mind that my escape had been revealed.”
    Sharee interrupted my story and brought me back to the present day reality, where my once-young heart had become old and jaded. Those fresh feelings filled with hope and determination had been replaced with lost opportunities and broken dreams.
    Although I had been having a wonderful time reminiscing with Sharee, she was a constant reminder of me being stood up. I couldn’t understand it. Christine, it seemed, wasn’t going to be showing up this time. And my heart truly ached at the thought that she had forgotten me, once and for all.
    “Did you get caught?”
    “ Huh?” I said absent-mindedly.
    “ That night. Did you get caught sneaking out of your room?” she asked again.
    “ Oh, I’m getting to that, don’t be impatient.”
     
     
     
    Chapter Six
     
     
    July 1968 – Delta, Colorado - Deltarado Days, 1:30 p.m.
     
    “ I looked across the table at Christine. She looked so graceful. She reminded me of Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany’s but with longer hair. How she would not have a thousand guys waiting to be at her side at this moment was beyond me. All I knew was, I was having a slice of pizza with an angel.
    “ Christine caught me looking at her and looked away. I could tell she might have felt uncomfortable. ‘So, you live with your parents?’ she asked.
    “‘ I sure do. When I’m not traveling or staying with the team. During home games in Albuquerque, I stay with a nice older couple. They have a great swimming pool.’ She smiled at that.
    “‘ How about you?’ I asked. ‘Do you have any siblings?’
    “‘ Nope, just me.’
    “‘ Wow, I’m one of seven kids. My parents believed in being fruitful and multiplying.’
    “‘ Well. I’m glad they kept going until they made you.’ That statement made me blush. I liked this girl a lot. ‘Where do you fall in the birth order?’
    “‘ I’m the oldest boy. I have two older sisters. So, I’m third.’
    “‘ Where did you grow up?’
    “‘ California. Indio, California.’
    “‘ Is that near Los Angeles?’
    “‘ More or less. Please don’t ask me if I’ve seen movie stars.’
    “‘ That was my next question.’ Christine laughed.
    “‘ It usually is. Most people think movie stars just walk the streets, eat at delis, and roller skate at the park constantly.’
    “ I looked across at Christine and she somehow she got a piece of pizza cheese in her bangs. I looked her in the eyes and asked, ‘Do you trust me?’
    “‘ I don’t really know you.’
    “‘ Okay, let me rephrase that. Do you trust me enough to close your eyes for five seconds?’
    “ Christine looked at me and grinned. She was a bit nervous, but she said, ‘You want me to close my eyes?’
    “‘ Yes, just for five seconds. But you can’t know the reason why?’
    “ She grinned at me and said, ‘I can trust you for five seconds. Not a second longer.’
    “ Christine closed her eyes and I quickly