The Iso-Stasis Experiment (The Experiments) by Jacqueline Druga Page A

right into me?”
    “I did, didn’t I? So, why did you lie?”
    “I was being an asshole. But I guarantee I am the only asshole up here you can trust to be alone with.”
    “Nah.” Cal shook her head. “Carlos is harmless. I could be alone with him.”
    “You don’t know him.” Jake nodded. “I’m a pretty good judge of people and I get a bad feeling from him.”
    “I’m a pretty good judge of people, too, and I don’t get a bad feeling about him. Besides, I sat in my room alone with you last night and I don’t know you.”
    Jake laughed at her remark. “Please, I’m the best one you could spend time with. My gut tells me . . .”
    “Jake, I firmly believe your gut sucks about the manuscripts and Carlos.” Cal laughed.
    “You’re letting the fact that he looks just like your ex-fiancé get in the way of your clear thinking. Look at his eyes Cal. Really look at his eyes. They say a lot.”
    “So do hands. I’d rather ask to see his hands.”
    With a loud laugh Jake threw his head back. “Are you telling me besides being the great judge of character, you’re also a palm reader?”
    “No, I’m not a palm reader. But I can tell by the lines on your hands so much about you.” She reached across and grabbed his right hand but he struggled. “Let me see your palm.”
    “No.” He tugged back, but not too hard.   He didn’t want to pull her across him.
    “Are you afraid?”
    “Afraid?” Jake set his book to one side and willingly gave her his hand. “Go on.”
    Cal spread his fingers open, running her hand across his, flattening it. “God, your hands are huge.”
    “You know what they say. You can tell about a man’s . . .” Jake’s eyes widened in surprise. “I can’t believe I said that. That was wrong. It was inappropriate.”
    “Please, Jake. If you can walk around in your underwear in front of me, you can make crude comments. Trust me, I’ve heard them all.” She looked at his hand and then smiled at him. “OK, what do I see? This is your character line. It’s short.”
    “Thanks.” Jake rolled his eyes and tried to pull his hand back.
    “It’s strong though. You can be trusted . . . But you’re also selfish. In fact, I’d go so as far to say you’re probably a selfish lover.” Hoping to irk him, Cal was surprised by his reaction.
    “You’re probably right.” Jake felt her hand smooth against his. Her soft finger tips, her small hand getting lost in his. He actually could care less what she was saying about him. He was enthralled at how nice it felt to have her touching him gently like that.
    “I’m right? That’s a hell of a thing to admit to.” Cal was surprised but continued to examine his hands.
    “I’m honest.” He took a deep breath and swallowed as he watched her run her fingers oh-so-lightly across his palm. “Aren’t we all selfish? I mean, when you’re not with someone you care about, you’re more likely to be selfish in bed. Don’t you agree?”
    “Yeah, I do.” She nodded.
    “So . . . I’m probably a selfish lover. In fact, I know I have been. I’ve never been with anyone I cared about. I’ve never had time to care about anyone. But I know I wouldn’t be selfish if I met that person.” He felt her hand stop in the center of his palm and rest there. Almost as if a reflex action, his fingers closed over top of hers. His heart jumped a beat when he did that. Catching himself, he quickly pulled away. “Let’s get back to the books.”
    “No.” Cal was firm. “I’m not going to sit here and let you, or us, waste our time on your stupid manuscript theory.”
    “Stupid?” Jake was offended. “Will you admit defeat if I prove it?”
    “Oh, I will, absolutely. How are you going to do that?”
    “Meet me back in your room in fifteen minutes.” Tossing the manuscripts he already had into his knapsack, Jake handed it to Cal, stood up, and walked down the hill.

Observation Room - Caldwell Research Institute, Atlanta, GA
     
August 3 - 2:09