Read Online Counting Down by Lilah Boone - Free Book Online

long moment they held the stare, neither of them feeling the need to look away. Abby stopped chewing and Kyle simply looked into her like he was now the painter and her portrait was his next project.
    Abruptly Alex coughed a little too loudly, breaking the peace of their lunch and the spell between Abby and Kyle. Abby knew that her ex-boyfriend was irritated by what he’d seen moving between her and someone he saw as his competition. Obviously, he wasn’t really trying to hide it. It was his not so discrete way of letting her know that he was still planning on making another go at their relationship. Abby knew there was no hope of that now.
    There was a connection between her and Kyle that Abby couldn’t deny. She didn’t know yet if it went beyond sharing dreams and iridescent skin, but she knew that she wanted to find out. She wanted to get to know Kyle inside and out; find out what his passions were, learn about what and who he loved. She wanted to know him with a certain desperation that she wasn’t used to feeling. She wondered if this was what being off her meds was like. Was this what everyone else felt like all the time?
    After lunch the four of them worked into the night. It was well past prime time before they stopped for a late supper.
    During this meal they all spoke to each other, but none of them wanted to ponder any more ways to survive disaster. Instead they talked about mundane things; little things that normal people talked about at normal meals.
    There was discussion of Abby’s work, where she had recently been showing and who her latest clients were. The everyday workings of Alex’s gallery came up as well. None of them mentioned that all of that was now lost and buried beneath miles of ocean. For the moment they preferred to pretend all was right in the world.
    Kyle and Jim told stories about the farm, about birthing foals and dealing with a recently deceased blind rooster who never stopped crowing. They all laughed when Kyle insinuated Jim had sent one of his dogs after it late one summer night, saying Jim had draped the poor bird in a raw meat necklace to entice the lazy hounds.
    Abby let out an uncharacteristic giggle. “Oh, that’s so awful. Please tell me that didn’t really happen.”
    Kyle set his napkin on the table with a shake of his head and a smile. “No, of course not. Honestly, we loved that bird. Jim especially. I assure you poor blind Gary was a very old chicken who died naturally and peacefully.”
    For all intents and purposes they were four people getting to know each other or catching up as was the case of Abby and her uncle. The only real negative tension in the room came from Alex. Occasionally he would shoot a look to Abby when she talked or laughed with Kyle or glower at Kyle over a fork full of food. Abby did her best to ignore her former lover and enjoyed the lightness of the evening.
    When the meal was over no one moved to clear the table or do the dishes. Leftovers went to the dogs and Jim pulled beers for each of them from the fridge. Beers led to tequila shots and before any of them realized it they were all a little tipsy and enjoying what seemed to be an endless amount of friendly conversation .
    The men talked about cars and other stereotypically male things while Abby listened and interjected where she could. She tried to be polite but honestly had no knowledge of engine blocks or trade deadlines.
    There was a silent agreement between the group to not turn on the television or even think about what the future may hold. They had created a temporary world where they could merely take pleasure in what it was to simply be human and remember what they were working so hard to preserve in the first place.
    With midnight rolling by, Jim stood up to stretch his legs and announced that he was going to bed.
    Alex was very drunk and was nearly falling asleep at the table, with his head rested firmly in his hand. “That sounds like a great idea.” He slurred a bit on his