The Golden Couple (The Samantha Project Series, # 2) by Stephanie Karpinske Page B

a good guy. I’m probably being overly cautious.” Jack thought for a moment. “Well, if there’s even a chance that the disk has the answers we’re looking for, then I have to risk opening it. I just can’t believe that the information about those base pairs is what’s on this thing. Maybe luck is finally coming our way.”
    “I wouldn’t say that just yet, Dad,” Erik said. “Why don’t you open the file first and then we’ll see.”
    “I’m hoping I can. I’ve been working on this for hours, and everything I thought would work hasn’t. So now I need to get creative.”  
    “Then we’ll leave you alone so you can get back to work.” Erik got up. “Sam, let’s go out back and work on some more stuff. Maybe we should practice getting those scenarios running in your head again.”
    “That’s my least favorite ability. Let’s practice something else,” I suggested, thinking of how that ability hadn’t helped me much in the past. Also, in order to get the scenarios running, my body had to release a high level of stress hormones and I really didn’t want to feel stressed today.
    “What are Colin and I supposed to do all day?” Brittany was finally up and dressed. She came over to the table.
    “I’ve got an idea.” Jack glanced up from the computer. “Erik, you and Sam work on listening to Brittany’s and Colin’s thoughts from different places and different distances. It will be good practice for both of you.”
    Erik headed for the door. “That’s a good idea. Colin? Brittany? You up for that?”  
    “I guess,” Brittany muttered. “But I still don’t like that whole mind-reading thing you guys do.”
    We all went outside and Erik gave instructions to Colin and Brittany. “Okay, now just think about whatever you want. Once you get to your spot, yell back at us to let us know you’re there. After two minutes, come back and we’ll try something else.”
    Colin went down the hill and into the woods. Brittany followed him, stopping halfway down the hill.
    “Ready,” I heard Colin call out.  
    “Me, too,” Brittany yelled.
    Erik nodded for us to begin. At first I tried to hear Brittany’s thoughts. I got nothing until about 30 seconds in. “How could Paul not have a TV? Who doesn’t have a TV? We were dirt poor and Mom still got us a TV. And cable.”
    I stopped listening to Brittany and changed my focus to Colin, imagining him in front of me. I could hear his thoughts right away. “I’ve gotta get some alone time with you, Sam. Maybe we could sneak away for an hour out here in the woods. It would be just like that time we drove out to Baxter Park and you and I—”
    “Stop! We’re done!” I yelled, startling Erik. “Time’s up!”
    “Are you sure? I think that was only a minute.” Erik checked his watch.
    “Nope. Two minutes. Your watch must be slow.” I could feel my face blushing. “Colin. Brittany. We’re done,” I called out to them.
    When they were back up the hill, I yanked Colin off to the side. “Why were you thinking those things? You know that Erik could hear you!”
    “Oh, I thought you were listening to me and Erik was listening to Brittany.”
    “No! We were listening to both of you!”
    Colin shrugged. “I don’t care. You’re my girlfriend. Erik knows that. It’s no big deal.”
    “Yeah, it is a big deal,” I whispered. “Those were private memories. I don’t want him hearing that stuff. I mean Baxter Park? You had to bring that up?”
    “We had a good time there.” He smiled, wrapping his arms around my waist. “A really good time.”  
    “Yeah, I remember. But that’s between us. I don’t want other people to know. It’s embarrassing.” I tried to pull away but he wouldn’t let me.
    “Okay. I won’t think that stuff anymore. Well, at least not when he’s listening in.” Colin leaned down and whispered to me. “So what about my offer? Do you want to get some alone time later?”
    “I don’t know. We’ll see how the day