Survivor - By Kaye Draper Page 0,16

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 had wheelchairs. “It’s no big deal,” I tossed after me.

Everyone had started to take their seats and a short, brown-haired woman in dark jeans and a snappy little red jacket came in to take her place in the circle, unofficially calling the meeting to order.

“Hello everyone.” Her big smile lit up the room, and the little side conversations started to die down. Melissa was a Speech therapist, and she led our group discussions and helped to keep us on track- something that could be difficult with a group of brain injury survivors. When her gaze lit on me, she grinned again, obviously having overheard Joanie’s comment.

“Today, I thought