Dance For Me Read Online Free PDF Page B

felt like a giant in her car and had to push his seat as far back as it could go to make room for his long legs.
       “You want to stop and get something to eat, even coffee or something?”
        Hope kept both hands on the wheel and eyes on the road.
       “Sure, okay. I could go for some coffee.”
     
    ***
       “Okay, so tell me. What’s the story with Shamayla and what’s his face?”
       Hope was sitting across from Dominic which Dominic could barely believe himself. For the second time they were face to face, and not in a rushed or desperate environment. They were in a McDonalds and other than an older couple on the other side of the dining room; they were the only ones inside.
        Hope popped her lid off of her coffee cup.
       “Well, I know their marriage was arranged. I know her family had no money, were barely making it on government aid. She’s fifteen years younger than him, they married when she was seventeen.”
        “What? Here?”
         Hope made a face like he shouldn’t besurprised.
        “Yeah here.”
         “You’re telling me she was forced? She has rights, especially when she was a minor?”
         “She said everything would have been fine if he wasn’t such an asshole. He beats her, he insults her, and...” 
         “And what?”
         She decided not to say any more about the things Zefar made Shamayla do. It wouldn’t be right to be spilling Shamayla’s secrets.
         Dominic still wasn’t fully getting it so he just listened.
      “She wanted to help her family and did for a while but they weren’t real supportive when she asked for help leaving him. She’s been on her own away from him for six months now. That’s the longest she’s been away and he’s been real persistent.” It was true. The more time that passed, the more aggressive he became. 
            Hope sniffed the strong aroma of her coffee, leaving her with a relaxed mildly euphoric feel. She loved the rich smell.
            “So you’re the protective friend?”
            “Until you came along.”
           “Oh,” he laughed, nervously un-wrapping a straw. He didn’t know what it was about her but he liked being near her. The closer, the better.
           “So you have girlfriend, right?”
            “Yeah,” he said. “Tristan.”
            “Where is Tristan now?”
             “Long story, I don’t really feel like getting into it right now.”
             “Fine,” she said in her gentle voice.
             "Have you been a dancer all your life?”
             Hope smiled but it was almost one of repugnance. Dominic tried to read her expressions but he couldn’t decipher them.
            “Since I was real small. Nothing  professional or anything. What do you do?
           “I’m in Construction.”
            “Yeah, I’ve noticed your work clothes and all those tools in the back of your truck.”
            “Oh yeah,” he smiled.  “You noticed all that?”
            Hope had the serious expression again, sipped from her coffee and looked Dominic dead in the eyes. She realized they were kind of grey, not sure if it was a mixture of green or blue in there as well.
            “They change color,” he said as if he had read her mind. “Depends on the color I’m wearing.” 
             They were sitting directly under an air vent and the AC was on, blasting Hope with icy air.
             “Feels like a morgue in here,” she mumbled, warming her insides with a drink of coffee. She was still in his oversized sweater, swimming it in really, but her bare legs and sandaled feet were cold. She crossed one leg over the other; her foot accidently brushed his leg under the table.
            “What time do you usually go to sleep?”
             “Before the sun comes up,” she replied. “It gives me a sense of normalcy, like going to bed at night and waking up to the sun. I usually wake