We sit on the couch while Anton sifts through the board games.

"Claudia, what did you go to school for?" he asks with a glance at me.

"Graphic design."

Anton nods, as if expecting the answer. "I have a project for you."

"Well ... I left before I graduated," I say, not wanting to tiptoe any closer to why I don't have my degree. I was twenty when I went on the run and have been performing minimum wage jobs since then. They're easy to get, and waitressing gives me the chance to earn a little more than I might otherwise. "I might be out of practice."

"You will remember."

I glance at Petr, who's smiling. "In his mind, you've confirmed and are already halfway done with it. It's how he does things. You'll get used to it."

The last phrase echoes in my mind. Todd meets my gaze from his spot in an armchair that's been dragged closer to the coffee table. A flicker of hope is in his face, one that troubles me.

Petr squeezes my hand once more. I don't know how he senses it when I'm worried, but he does. Our sides are pressed together again, his presence calming the anxious flutter in my stomach.

"I will inform you now that you shall lose," Anton says gravely and places a game on the table. "Prepare yourselves."

His delivery never fails to draw a smile from me. I really do adore Petr's father.

We spend the day in the family area playing games. The time passes so quickly, I'm surprised when it's dark and we're invited down for dinner. Petr rarely leaves my side and holds my hand the entire time we're seated with each other. He doesn't kiss me again, for which I'm relieved. My internal turmoil is nowhere near done; if anything, the battle is heating up, the happier Todd becomes.

Todd, Maya and I are driven home by Anton's driver after dinner.

For the first time in too long for me to recall, I go to bed feeling ... good. I can't get over Petr's kiss or how natural it was being with him. I'm unable to quell the desire scattering my thoughts or the image in my head of Petr and me seated on the couch again, enjoying each other's company.

The sensations are so foreign, I don't sleep for half the night.

But when I do, it's not Petr's kisses I see in my dreams.

It's replaying memories of the last time The Monster caught us and how he almost killed Todd.

I awake near tears, my pain so raw, it's hard for me to stand until I calm myself.

I don't know how to stay in town and not be with Petr. I don't know how to leave town when being with Petr would be so natural, so easy.

I'm in too deep already, and I don't know what to do.

Chapter Thirteen: Petr.

I can't remember the last time I was nervous about anything.

Monday morning, I arrive to the diner five minutes earlier than usual. My thoughts are going wild with anticipation. I experienced the tremble in Claudia's hands yesterday and saw the way she looked at me when she left. I don't think she was aware of either.

Her lingering gaze held the same sentiment I've given Brianna on more than one occasional: regret stemming from the wish we could be while knowing it's not possible.

Maybe I moved too quickly in kissing her, but I couldn't help it. Claudia is beautiful, and in that moment, the vulnerability in her features hit me as hard as an explosion rocking my HUMVEE when I was overseas. I needed to help her lift the fear for a moment, to give her a sense of relief. To an extent, I think I did that. We had a great time yesterday, and her smiles and laughter were as genuine as Todd's.

But I'm pretty sure the kiss will end up being a setback.

It's a shame. I care about her. A lot. I guess this saves me from being embarrassed when she reacts to my leg the way Brianna did.

Claudia arrives on schedule and meets my gaze with a smile. I catch her troubled expression when she turns away, and my chest tightens. When she approaches the table with my usual, I wait for her to say something about never wanting to see me again.

"Thank you for yesterday," she starts.

"Not a problem. I'm glad you all had fun."

"We did."

I plunge forward, knowing there's one way to determine where we stand. "You, uh, want to go to dinner at some point this week?"

She hesitates. I see the answer in her face. "Petr ..." She clears her throat, distraught. The tremor in her tone disturbs me at a primal level. "I have to fix something before I can move forward with my life. I want you to ask me again tomorrow."

"I will," I respond. "I'll ask you every day until you say yes."

She appears doubtful as she studies me. "I hope so."

"You okay with me stealing Todd away still?" I take her hand, unable to bear the distance between us or the pain in her gaze.

"As long as it's not a problem. I don't want to be a burden."

"Never."

"Thank you." She looks at our clasped hands and squeezes mine briefly before pulling away. Without another word, Claudia leaves.

I barely know her, and I've only kissed her once. Why is this whole situation hurting so much?

She comes back once but doesn't speak, and I leave, dissatisfied, frustrated and wishing I knew how to fix a situation I can't control. I'll keep my word about asking her. I hope, sometime soon, I discover the real issue and it's not my leg.

My mood remains dampened for the rest of the day. The old me would tell her how I feel, but I'm not that person anymore. If anything, I think it might make things worse between us when she's already struggling.

I put on a friendly face for my school visit. The kids do cheer me up. Today is a class full of seven year olds. Their genuine fascination with my leg soothes the side of me that can't let go of the idea Claudia might be disgusted by it the way Brianna is.

Right at four, I drop by the diner and pick up Todd, who is waiting with all kinds of jitters for his first night of martial arts. He's clutching his iPhone in one hand and shrugs off his backpack as he climbs into the truck.

"You don't want to say hi to Claudia?" he asks.

"Don't want to be late the first night," I reply.

He appears apprehensive. "Is it a big class? I've never done karate before."

"Nah. Small class. I'll pair up with you the first half a dozen times to teach you the basics."

"Wow." He's looking at me like I'm a rock star.

I laugh, always amused by the unabashed way kids and teens react to me. The community center isn't far, but it's snowy and cold out. I pull into the parking lot.

"Yesterday was pretty awesome," he adds. "Is there ... can we come over again?"

I hesitate. There's no way I'd dime out his sister, but I'm not certain what to tell him, either. "We'll have to see," I manage finally. "It's ultimately up to your sister."

"Oh." He seems to know what that means. "Maybe I can convince her."

Smiling, I climb out of the truck and lead him into the center. He's gripping his backpack hard, and his eyes dart around to the blue mats lining the gym on the opposite side of the entrance. There are three students and an instructor in their uniforms already. Todd doesn't look certain, but I motion him forward.

"It took two weeks for her to agree. Don't back out now," I remind him with a laugh.

Determination crosses his features, and he draws abreast of me.

An hour later, we wrap up. Todd is a natural with great coordination. Teaching him the basics is easy so far, and his intensity is either a sign of eagerness or another flag that he's learning for a reason other than a hobby. He's sweaty and cheerful by the time he pulls on his jacket.

His eyes go to my exposed legs. I'm in shorts and a long sleeve t-shirt tonight. "Does it hurt in the cold?" he asks of my prosthetic.

"No. I have a special sleeve to keep it from getting too wet though," I reply and ruffle his hair. "Was it everything you expected?"

"You are amazing," he says, echoing a word I've heard his sister use on several occasions.

"Practice and attention to detail," I reply. Too hot to pull on my sweats, I zip up a jacket and pick up my gym bag. We head out towards the truck.

"How long until I'm as good as you?"

"A few years."

"Oh." He grows thoughtful.

I glance at him as we get into the truck. "It really depends on how hard you push yourself," I add.

"Hmmm. I was hoping a month or two."

"It'll take little longer than that. There's no rush. The snow will soon be too deep to be outside."

He nods.

"I have a schedule for you," I add and pull out a piece of paper from my bag. Handing it him, I then put the truck in gear and begin driving.

"Wow! Paintball!" he exclaims, reading the one-month schedule eagerly. "And basketball." The glow in his gaze starts to fade. "Claudia won't agree, Petr."

"She already did."

"Really?" His look is indecipherable, the emotions too deep and quick for me to pin them down.

"Yep. She wants you to be happy."

He starts to smile. "I've always wanted to be in sports. All the other guys at school know how to play soccer and football and go do paintball on the weekends. I can't believe she said yes. You're sure?"

"Positive. You can double check with her if you want."

"I believe you," he murmurs. "And you'll come with me to all these things, too?"

"Of course."

"My dad died when I was eight and Claudia has to work all the time. I've never had anyone to go with me anywhere."

His words are hushed without being sad, and he seems more awed than depressed. I can sense how lonely he's been but resist the urge to address the issue of why head on. Suffice it to say, he's been alone long enough that a simple schedule appears to be the best news he's received in his life.

"I couldn't imagine growing up without my dad," I say, genuinely troubled by the newfound fact about his life. It's a reminder I don't know much about either of them, not where they're from or whether their childhoods were happy or not.

"It's okay." He shrugs. "I miss him during Christmas. Do you miss your mom and brother?"

"Always." I glance at him. "You have Claudia. She's an incredible woman."

"She's all right, I guess." He snorts. "Kinda bossy sometimes."

I laugh. My mind races. Todd needs more help than I originally thought. I assess he's never known stability and wonder if he realizes how different he really is. Sweet, thoughtful, protective of his sister yet also a little lost, Todd is a good kid to the core, one who would have to believe his life was in inevitable danger in order to do something illegal like buy a weapon under the table.

Oblivious to my darker thoughts, he's studying the calendar. "What's the entry on the fifteenth?" he asks.

"Visiting the VA hospital and local soldiers' home. We'll have to take you out of school to go with me."

"You want me to go with you?" He sounds amazed.

"Definitely. You can help me find candidates for the limb replacement program."

"Wow."

His unguarded expression is close to one of worship as he gazes at me. It makes me laugh even harder this time. The kid has never had anyone take an interest in him, which is unfortunate but one of the rare actions I can take to help them both.

I pull up to the curb of his apartment building and park. "So we good? You like the schedule."

"I love it!"

"Great. Let your sis know. I'll pick you up at the diner, same time tomorrow."

With an eager nod, Todd grabs his bag and hops out. He slams the door behind him and leaves, trotting down the snow-cleared sidewalk towards the building. I wave back and flip on the windshield wipers to prevent snow from building up on my windshield.

When he's inside, I pull away, deep in thought. Todd has never had a positive male role model. It pleases me to be able to provide this for him. What disturbs me: fearing Claudia means to move again, destabilize Todd and well ... expand the ache lingering in my chest from her retraction this morning.