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

Colin deserved a normal life. He needed to finish high school and go to college.  
    Later that day, Erik took over driving and I went up and sat next to him. Brittany sat behind us with her headphones on. Jack and Colin sat in the back row.  
    “Why aren’t you sitting back with Colin?” Erik mind-talked to keep our conversation private.
    “He’s mad at me. He’s not even speaking to me.”
    “What happened?
    “He told me that he got into a school in Minnesota. They offered him a football scholarship. I was so excited for him. And then it hit me that being here with us, he was missing high school. And if he stays with us, he won’t graduate. And he’ll miss going to college and playing football. His whole life will be ruined.”
    “So he decided to stay behind and finish school?”
    “No. He doesn’t care about that. He wants to stay with me and make sure I get the timer turned off. And whatever happens after that.”
    “And you told him he couldn’t?”
    “Well, no. Not really. I mean, I guess I kind of did. I told him to stay in Minnesota and that I’d find him later, once we were safe.”
    “Well no wonder he’s mad!”  
    “What’s that supposed to mean?
    “It’s not your decision, Sam. If he wants to go with you, that’s his decision, not yours. How would you feel if it were the other way around?”
    I paused to think about it. “Okay, I would want to go with him. But it’s different for me. I don’t have anyone left. He still has his parents. His sisters. His friends. He has a future back home, not with me.”
    “If he felt that way, he wouldn’t be mad at you right now. Don’t you get it? He wants to be there for you, Sam. He wants to protect you. That’s what guys do. They want to protect their girl. And you’re telling him that he can’t. I’d be pissed, too, if I were him.”
    “But I don’t need him to protect me. If anything, I’d be protecting him. I’m the one with special powers.”
    “That’s not how guys think. We think it’s our job to keep you safe. Yeah, we know you girls can take care of yourselves, but you have to at least pretend that you need us.”
    “I was just trying to keep Colin out of this.” I glanced back to see Colin leaned against the side of the van, asleep.  
    “So what are you gonna do?” Erik asked.
    “I have to think about it. I mean, maybe he’d be safer going with us than staying at home. If he’s at home, GlobalLife could take him again and use him to get to me.”
    “That’s probably true, but don’t tell him that. You have to tell him that you NEED him to go with us.”
    “But that’s a lie. I don’t need—”
    “Then maybe you should think about your relationship, Sam. Because if I only had one person left in the world that I loved, I would want that person to be right here with me through all of this.”
    “What are you trying to say? That I don’t love him?” My thoughts got defensive. “If I didn’t love him, I wouldn’t be trying to protect him by making him stay home.”  
    “Just think about it, Sam. That’s all I’m saying.”
    “Well, what would you do if your genetically-enhanced girlfriend was being chased by powerful people who would kill anyone who stood in their way?”  
    “If I loved her, I would risk everything for her. If she told me to stay home, I’d go anyway. I mean, I barely know you and I would do anything—” Erik stopped.
    “What did you say?”
    “Nothing. Never mind. I’m done with my relationships 101 lecture for today. Want to play a road game?”
    “Sure.”
    We spent the next few hours spotting license plates and making words from the letters. “CCA,” I said, reading the plate of the car in front of us. “Let’s see, that stands for the Calico Cat Alliance.”
    Erik shook his head. “Nope. Not good enough. Try again. Here’s one. HLA.”
    “Hairy Lions Anonymous,” I said in a serious tone.
    Erik laughed. “That was a little better.”
    “Hey, let me try,”