Amoeba (The Experiments) Read Online Free PDF Page B

I?”
    “Why did you shut that off?” Jake asked. “You don’t want me to see it ?”
    “No. That’s not it. I’m being silly. Reminiscing. I just miss her.”
    “How is that silly?” Jake asked. “Can I watch with you? I would like very much to see your daughter.”
    Cal patted the spot next to her on the sofa. She waited for Jake to join her.
    When the video played again, Jake smiled. “Can you still do that?”
    “It’s a family thing.” Cal felt Jake grab onto her hand, slipping his fingers in between hers. She leaned her head against his arm, and then she felt his fingers tense up the second a young, dark haired man holding a guitar and sitting in the grass showed up on the video. David Martinez. Cal reached for the remote.
    “Don’t.” Jake stopped her. “It’s okay, let it go.”
    Cal’s eyes shifted up to Jake . He looked so serious and stern watching David chuckling as he strummed the guitar.
    “David, don’t ,” Cal’s voice said.
    David grinned widely and looked up at the camera. “Jess, should I?”
    “Yes.” Jessie spoke from behind the camera.
    In the video , Cal’s hand reached down and David swiped it away. He’d strum the guitar, laugh, shake his head, and play again.
    David sang his own words to the Beatle’s song, Michele . “Caleen, was seen. Walking down the street with Mr. Green, cheating on me.”
    “David ,” Cal warned.
    David laughed, strummed once and sang. “I love you , I love you, I love you. That’s all I want to say. You take my breath away . . .”
    Jake looked suddenly at Cal when the video stopped. “What did you do that for?”
    “You don’t need to see anymore ,” Cal told him.
    “Is Jessie in it more?”
    “Yeah but . . .”
    Jake took the remote and turned it on. His whole expression dropped as he watched David take off his guitar, reach up, grab hold of Cal, pull her down and kiss her. And then David pushed her down to the grass kissing her more with a happy laughter.
    Cal watched Jake, his eyes fixed upon them.
    “Get off my mom!” Jessie yelled. “That’s gross.”
    David lifted his lips from a smiling Cal, and looked at the camera. “Get used to it baby doll. I’m gonna be kissing your mother till I’m eighty years old.”
    “Jake.” Cal took the remote and shut it off. “I’m sorry. That was a different life ago.”
    “And it was only about a year or so ago.”
    Cal lowered her head and looked at the remote.
    “Cal, it’s okay.” Jake laid his fingers on her chin and lifted her head. “I needed to see that. I did.” Jake cleared his throat. “You looked really happy then.”
    “I’m happy now , Jake. I love you very much.”
    “I know.” Jake held her hand tighter. “And it’s okay, I’m not letting that bother me. In fact, I’m gonna let that help me.”
    “What?”
    “Yes. I think maybe that’s what I need to do.”
    “Play guitar?” Cal asked.
    “Cal please. Do I look like a musician?”
    Cal was joking , and she saw Jake didn’t realize that. “Geez.” She slapped her hand on her leg. “What’s wrong with me. Of course not.”
    “No, it’s the spontaneity thing. Yeah. I think, I think I’m gonna try to be more spontaneous with our romance. What do you think?”
    Cal tried to stay serious, but the snicker kept creeping up on her. “Sorry.” She held up her hand. “But that’s not you.”
    “Of course it is. I can do that. I can do things on a whim.”
    With her mouth tightly closed, Cal nodded. “I’m sure you can. Try it.”
    “Oh, not yet , okay? I have to give some thought on what I will do.” Jake grabbed the remote control off of her. “As for now, since you dragged me out of bed,” Jake smiled at her, “let’s watch Jessie.”
    “Are you sure?”
    “Absolutely.” He kissed her quickly and turned on the video. “Only . . .” Jake pointed at the set. The tape sped forward. David was a fast moving blur. “We’re going past this fuckin’ asshole.”
    Cal, looking peaceful and