Read True North Book 3 - Finding Now Kate and Sam for Free Online Page B

It was bigger than her hand!”
    I gave in. “Did your parents approve?” I wondered aloud.
    “Oh, yeah, they love Nate like their own kid,” Sam said.
    The lull of the bus was making me want to close my eyes. I felt my head touch down on Sam’s shoulder.
    “Where’s your place, Jolie?”
    “Queen Anne Apartments. First Avenue.”
     
    Before I knew it, I was being jostled. “We’re here.” Sam helped me to my feet, and I wondered if people thought I was drunk.
    When the doorman saw us he leaped to his feet. “Ms. Jolie, are you alright?”
    “I’m good, Max. This is my friend Sam. I had an accident earlier … a nasty fall. He’s just making sure I get in safely.”
    Max nodded and moved ahead of Sam to hit the elevator button.
    “Thanks,” Sam said.
    “Of course. If you need anything let me know.”
    The elevator doors opened.
    “Second floor. Apartment 201.” I was feeling more myself now, and with that came the embarrassment. “I’m really okay from here. You’ve done so much already.”
    “I’m not going to bring you all this way to leave you at the door. You have to invite me in for something to drink. At least a glass of water ’cause I’m thirsty as hell.”
    He was funny and gracious. I liked him. The fleeting thought that I could use a friend rocketed through my mind. I slammed it down fast.
    We walked into my studio apartment. I had my footing now, but was seriously exhausted. The fatigue seemed to squeeze every bit of energy out of my muscles like wrung out damp towels crumpled on the floor. I wanted my bed.
    My apartment was set up perfectly for me. It had a full sized bed against the wall on one side and an overstuffed loveseat on the other. My treadmill faced the terrace’s glass paned doors, so I had a nice view of the sound.
    Sam had gone straight to the kitchen as if he lived here and came back with two glasses of water from the spring water cooler.
    “Thanks,” I said gratefully as he handed me a glass and looked out through the opening between rooms.
    “This is a great place,” he remarked.
    I sipped my water and set it on the bedside table. “I like it.” I sat down on my bed.
    “Want some music?” Somehow he had acquired my iPhone. “Linkin Park, ‘Castle of Glass.’ Great song.”
    I started to say I didn’t listen to it anymore, but no sound came out.
    I was fading fast. God, Sam was still here, after everything.
    Son of a bitch was going to get that coffee.

    Chapter Four
    “Lost in You”
    Three Days Grace
     
    Sam
    Sitting on the loveseat on the opposite side of Ms. Jolie’s studio apartment, watching her while she slept in her bed; I couldn’t even imagine what must have happened to her. In a moment I’d watched her simultaneously shatter apart and hold herself together. In class she was always brass tacks and had her shit together. I hadn’t pushed her to tell me anything and she hadn’t offered any explanation, but whatever had happened, her strength was remarkable. She’d looked terrified and was so pale and colorless that I thought for sure she was going to pass out. I still wasn’t satisfied that she didn’t need to be in a hospital, but she was so adamant about not going. Damn it, she could hardly stand when she tried to push me away from her. I couldn’t force her, and I hoped it was the right thing.
    I had a feeling any pity would only infuriate her, so I’d just tried to be her friend. It seemed to work, to a degree at least. I got her into her apartment, but she passed out immediately. I’d checked on her several times to make certain she was still breathing.
    Then I played snoop. I certainly didn’t know a thing about her, and anything could be going on. What if she had a serious condition? On the bus I saw she wasn’t wearing a medical alert bracelet, and once she went to sleep I even checked her wrists and ankles for the tattoo—nothing. If she had Ativan what else did she have? Did she overdose? I pawed through her bag and found