Free Color Blind by Diana Gardin Page A

behind the stage manager in the wings, directing dancers
as they swirl on and offstage.
    The first act passes faster than I expect,
and suddenly the theater teacher is announcing my name. I smooth my short black
dress nervously. My feet, in their stiletto red heels, propel me forward, and I
drift to the podium on the side of the stage.
    “Thank you, Mr. Laffy ,
for that kind introduction. I’m so proud of my dancers in this musical. They’ve
done all of the work; and made it really easy to choreograph a great show.
Thank you so much for coming, and I hope you enjoy the rest of “Mamma Mia!”
    I walk off the stage to the sound of the roar
of applause.
    “Well said, Cam Short For Camryn.
Congratulations on the show. You’ve done an awe-inspiring job.” There stands Cooper,
decked out in all his sexy leather and denim.
    “Hey, thanks Cooper. I didn’t know you
were coming, since you weren’t able to get a last-minute part. I’m glad you’re,
um, enjoying it.”
    Damn
it! Why does he have to look like that?   Always good enough to take a bit of. Now
I can’t even finish a sentence without stuttering.
    Cooper gives me his signature lopsided
smile. “You’re welcome. I have something for you, but I’ll have to get it to
you another time.”
    My eyes widened. “Really? What is it?”
    He rakes his eyes up and down my body
suddenly, as if he’s just noticed what I’m wearing.
    “You look…ridiculously hot,” he says
softly. “I thought you looked beautiful on stage, but this close…wow.”
    My mouth is too busy hanging open to be
able to answer him, so I just nod.
    He grins. “What are you doing after the
show? Maybe I can give it to you then.”
    After the show I have plans with Luka. Somehow
I feel sorry to have to tell Cooper this. I really wish I didn’t have plans, so
I could find out what he has to give me.
    “After the show is no good,” I admit.
“Sorry.”
    He nods knowingly. “Someone beat me to
it, huh?” He takes a step toward me.
    “Um, yeah,” I reply. There’s the
stuttering again.
    He continues walking forward until he’s
standing right in front of me. He takes my chin in one hand and rubs the side
of my face softly with one thumb. He stares down at me, and all I can do is
stare back. He’s held me in the palm of his hand the second he looked at me
like I was something good enough to eat.
    “I want to kiss you,” he states simply.
“You don’t know how much. Would you push me away if I tried?”
    My eyes are wide as I shake my head.
    “That’s something,” he whispers. He
focuses on my lips as he speaks, which makes it really hard to concentrate on
what he’s saying.
    “I’m not going to kiss you right now,
though, Cam.”
    Disappointment washes through me. “Why
not?”
    “Because I want to by the only guy
allowed to kiss you when it finally happens.”
    “Oh,” is my brilliant response.
      Cooper bends down and pauses, his face so
close to mine I can feel his warmth radiating out from his mouth. My heart
stills and I look up at him, waiting. My lips are pursed slightly and I am
hungrily anticipating the moment his lips will touch mine. I’m so tempted to
lean forward and let my mouth graze his, but I somehow am able to restrain
myself.
    He kisses my cheek, then backs away. “Next
time, I’m stealing you away.”
    Cooper exits the backstage entrance door,
leaving me standing alone with a racing heartbeat and shaking legs.
    I sigh, irritated at the heat that has
pooled up inside of me at Cooper’s proximity. What is Cooper Goode doing to me?
I’ve never experienced so many intense emotions shooting through my body
before. He set off a fireworks display inside me with just one touch.
    After the show, which went off without a
hitch, I meet my friends and friends outside the auditorium’s front doors.  
    Dara and Sarah entrap me in a tight group
hug. “Cam!” Dara exclaims. “That was amazing!”
    “Thanks girls. Now, can you let go so I
can