Read Online Immortal Mine by Cindy C Bennett - Free Book Online

definitely something
different about Sam from any other boy I’ve ever known. Not just
that he’s, you know, totally gorgeous. Not that his amazing
shade-of-red hair sweeps across his brow and curls lightly over his
ears and collar. Not his lips, full and wide. I think I actually
sigh looking at them. Not his perfectly masculine jaw or his eyes
that have… crap! ... just lifted to look at me, auburn brows
drawn down in confusion at my intense perusal… and probably at his
hearing my sigh.
    I can feel the flames fan my cheeks as I
quickly look away, trying to pay attention to the discussion.
Honestly, though, I have zero creativity concerning writing a
script or planning the stage props. I’m very creative in the
kitchen, but this kind of creativity is better left to those whose
input will actually be helpful. Put me on the stage and tell me
what to sing or say, and I can hold my own pretty well, but that’s
the end of my talent in that area. I begin to sigh again, then
realizing how it may sound to Sam, I try to suck it back in.
    This, of course, causes me to choke. I begin
coughing violently, attracting the attention of every set of eyes
at the table. Yup… his, too. I stand and try to excuse myself
around gasping for air. No one really pays attention when they see
I’m not in mortal danger, so I make a quick exit.
    In the hallway, I lean over, coughing and
holding my stomach. Just when I almost have it under control, I
hear, “You should get a drink of water.”
    It’s not the words, but the source of the
words that causes me to gasp, and I begin choking anew. A set of
hands reach out and guide me to the drinking fountain. I lean over
and take a mouthful, swallowing it against my breath. I cough a few
more times, between a few more swallows of water, and soon I’m able
to control it.
    “Thanks,” I croak, avoiding looking up at
Sam’s towering height. I swear he must be, like, six-six as my eyes
are right at chest level.
    “No problem. Are you okay, now?”
    Nervously, I realize his hand is still
lingering on my shoulder.
    “How tall are you?” I blurt out. He
blinks in surprise, and it occurs to me that my tone sounds a
little accusatory, as if he’s been keeping it secret. I drop my
voice to a murmur, “Not that I, you know, wonder about it very
much, or anything.”
    “I’m six-three,” he says. “How tall are
you?” I glance up at him, and quickly away, but not before I see
the grin and teasing glint in his eyes.
    “About a foot shorter,” I say.
    “ About a foot?”
    “Fine, exactly a foot, okay?” I know
I sound sullen, but I still haven’t decided whether I should be
nice to him or not—especially when I’m this confused about him.
I’ve never been confused about a boy before. It’s kind of
embarrassing to admit, but I’ve never even kissed a boy before.
    “Should I call you shorty, or shrimp?” he
laughs.
    I glare at his chest. “Should I call you
lanky or Lurch?” I shoot back. Yeah, I know. Lame. But he only
laughs more. Then he slips his hand from my shoulder and holds it
toward me.
    “You can call me anything you want if you’ll
agree to a truce.”
    I glance at his hand, at him, then back to
his hand, suspiciously. “A truce?”
    He shrugs. “We got off on a really bad foot,
and I’m sorry about that. I’m sorry for offending you. But we have
to figure out a way to co-exist peacefully, and I’d really like to
be your friend.”
    I scrunch my eyebrows. “You sound like my
dad,” I grumble. Then I relent and place my hand in his, tired of
being angry all the time. His long fingers close over mine, strong
and warm. Then he’s shaking my hand, as if we’d just met. I glance
up into his smiling face, my gaze immediately sliding away,
embarrassed.
    “Hi, my name is Sam. It’s nice to meet
you.”
    I can’t help but smile back at the silly
charade.
    “Niahm,” I say.
    “Hmm… Niahm. That’s an unusual name.”
    I shrug. “I have unusual parents.”
    He gives my