Calmly, Carefully, Completely Read Online Free PDF Page B

and blushes again.
    Traitor, I sign when she turns back around.
    He laughs, jumping in his chair a little.
    Now all I can do is stare at her ass. She’s cute. Like a fairy princess walking in the woods, picking up sticks. When her arms are full, she looks at Gonzo and says, “Can you be my hero and carry these back?”
    He nods and lets her fill his lap up with sticks. He turns to take them to the fire and leaves us standing there, gathering more of them. “Hurry back,” I call to him. He turns back and signs, Hands off my girl.
    I hold my hands out to the side and then give him a thumbs-up.
    She turns to me and extends her hand. “I’m Reagan.”
    She doesn’t remember me. Should I even remind her? She probably works hard on a daily basis to forget that night.
    I take her hand in mine and heat shoots straight through me. And it’s not because it’s been two years since I’ve had a woman in my arms. There’s something about this girl. She jerks her hand back and looks into my eyes. I want to ask her if she felt that. She wipes her hands on her jeans, and I realize she was just pulling back because my hands are sweaty. I’m an idiot.
    “Pete,” I say.
    “Why do you call him Gonzo?” she asks.
    “Why not?” I continue to pick up sticks.
    “He’s a sweet boy,” she says.
    “He’s a hormone on wheels,” I correct.
    She laughs. “At least you see him as a normal young man. Most people see the chair.” She shakes her head and looks up at me. I feel like she’s looking directly into my soul. “What makes you different?” she asks.
    You mean aside from my tats, piercings, and the fact that I came from prison? I shrug. I look in his direction. He’s already on his way back. “I just see a boy who wants to be treated like one.” I call to him when he gets close. “Hey Gonzo,” I say. “Can you take some more?” He grins and nods. We load him up, and he leaves again. I turn to her. “So, what makes you different, Reagan?” I ask. I want to touch her, but I don’t dare. So, I just look at her instead. I watch her lips and wait for her to explain the meaning of life to me.

Reagan
     
    He has the bluest eyes I’ve ever seen. It’s a little distracting because his piercings draw your attention away from his eyes and then you have to find your way back. He has tattoos all the way up his arms, from his wrists to where his T-shirt breaks up the designs. Then they start again and go all the way up his neck. He’s broad and tall, and he’s a little intimidating. But he’s not, all at the same time. He saw me at my most vulnerable point, and he did exactly what I needed.
    “I don’t think I’m different,” I say. “I’m just like every one of those kids.” She nods toward the cabins. “No better. No worse. Same fears. Same drives.” I shrug.
    He nods slowly and starts to pick up sticks again. He has a tattoo on the back of his neck. The words Sam is written in gothic, chunky letters.
    “Is Sam your girlfriend?” I blurt out. I immediately want to bite the words back, but they’re already out there.
    “Sam?” he asks.
    I rub the back of my neck, then point to his. “The tattoo.”
    He smiles. “Oh, that.”
    But he doesn’t elaborate. I feel like a dummy for even asking the first time. I’m not going to ask again.
    “So, you’re home from college?” he asks. I can’t believe he doesn’t remember me.
    I nod.
    “Where do you go?” he asks. He looks at me, waiting for my answer. And I don’t think I’ve ever had this much attention from a man that I actually want to talk to. He really cares about what I say. Or at least he wants me to think he does.
    “NYU,” I reply. “Junior this year.”
    “My brother goes to NYU.” He smiles. “Logan Reed?” he asks. But it’s a big school. The chance of me knowing his brother is small. But I know about all his brothers because I asked a lot of questions when I was looking for him.
    I shake my head.
    “He’s deaf.”
    I shake my head