Read True North for Free Online Page B

shirt, putting it to my lips.
    “ Hey, you okay?”
    “ Hi, Nate.” I didn’t have to turn around to know it was him. “I’m just fine.”
    “ Uh huh. Well it’s getting cold.” A zip up sweatshirt landed on my head.
    “ I’m not cold.”
    “ It’s North Dakota, it’s cold—put it on.”
    “ Fine.”
    Nathaniel came around and sat in the grass in front of me.
    “ Oh god! Tell me this isn’t the big brother talk,” I groaned.
    “ Not from me. You’re old enough to make up your own mind now.”
    “ Really? Can I have that in writing?”
    His voice turned serious. “Something happened.”
    “ What do you mean?”
    “ I know you’ve had a thing for Jake for a long time and I’m not blind, I’ve always seen the way he looked at you, but something happened while he was away, and I don’t know what. Neither does Caleb. Jake hasn’t told anyone,” he said.
    “ How do you know? What makes you think so?” I leaned in to hear him over the buzzing in my own ears.
    “ You really do think we live on separate planets.”
    “ Stop teasing and spit it out already,” I said, annoyed.
    “ The letters.”
    I was sure my heart stopped beating. “What about them?”
    “ When did your letters and email from Jake stop?”
    When I didn’t answer he did. “Yeah, mine too. So did Caleb’s. I don’t know what happened over there but I do know Jake might just be a ticking time bomb if he doesn’t open up and get the help he needs. He’s here Olivia, but he isn’t home .”
    Nate stood up. “Be careful with you.” And walked away.
    All of a sudden I didn’t want to be all alone out here. “Wait up. I’ll walk back with you.”
    I looped my arm around my brother’s and we started back towards the party. “So what’s with the chick who’s all over you out there?”
    “ Nothing, as usual.”
    “ She’s not good enough for you. You should cast your line in another direction.”
    “ Okay, little sister, we’re not having this talk.”
    “ Oh I get it, the train doesn’t go both ways.”
    “ That’s right.”
    As we headed back to the party, we heard everyone chanting Jake’s name. A group had formed around the picnic table on the deck where Jake and Charlie, a friend of theirs, were playing a drinking game.
    Charlie looked pretty bad while Jake looked like he was just getting started. They pushed back a shot each and turned the cup upside down on the table. Jake had a sizable shot glass pyramid in front him while Charlie’s was just growing. I could tell Charlie wasn’t Jake’s first opponent.
    “ Dude, you suck! But in a good way.” Charlie reached over to grasp hands with Jake.
    Everyone laughed, and Jessica shouted, “Jake wins again!”
    She pulled his arm up to show him off as champion then bent down to give him a kiss. The inside of my mouth turned to copper. But as she closed in, he blocked her face with his hand and shook his head. My stomach did cartwheels!
    Jessica frowned but tried to act like nothing happened.
    “ WHO SHALL BE THE NEXT CONTENDER?” Sam North growled into the crowd, lifting his arms up over his head like Rocky on the Philly Art Museum steps. His silver studded belt glinted in the firelight, and his wrists were covered in leather and silver bands.
    Sam was always brave and outspoken, always going for what he wanted. I wished I could be more like him; Julia and I were still trying to find our secret formulas or mojo or something to help us hit our targets.
    “ I’ll take him on.”
    Wow! That was one way to get noticed. All eyes fell on me.
    Damn, people—look away!
    Jake looked at me like he must have heard me wrong.
    “ Jeesh, you guys, it’s a game not a rite of passage. Let’s just have a little fun.” As soon as I said it, Jake almost cracked a smile.
    I sat down opposite him and got ready.
    I cocked an eyebrow and tried playing it tough. “So what’s the drink?”
    “ It’s been vodka, but I know you hate that, so how about rum?”
    Did he know