Drawing Bloodlines Read Online Free PDF

he glanced over at Leah and then loudly cleared his throat. “Umm — it’s pe rsonal.”
    Leah stood up, making the final touches to Nathan’s bed, and smiled. “I think now would be a good time for me to check-in with Lafonda.”
    Happily, she strolled past Bobby, but not b efore roughing the dark curly hair on his head with her fingers. She smiled wide as her eyes met Jonas’s, but abruptly came to a halt when she noticed the unhappy scowl on Nathan’s face. “I’m not going far, handsome,” she said. “I promise — just over to the main house.”
    Nathan’s eyes fluttered a few times before his frown slowly formed into a smile. “Okay,” he said, reluctantly, while glancing first at Bobby, then at Jonas.
    She followed his gaze and gave a quick grin before ste pping onto her toes to kiss him on the cheek. “I’ll be back.”
    “So,” said Nathan, drawing a deep breath.
    “Oh, wait!” said Leah, hurrying back int o the room. “I almost forgot — my bag!”
    Suddenly, a few frown lines appeared on Nathan’s for ehead. “Oh, okay,” he said, sounding a bit confused. “But aren’t you coming back?”
    Quickly, she reached for the brown knitted bag that sat at the foot of Nathan’s bed near Bobby’s leg. “Umm — yes,” she said, her voice quivering.
    “Oh, here,” sa id Bobby, reaching for the bag.
    “I got it!” said Leah, forcibly. She paused to secure the long crochet strap diagonally across her shoulder and chest. “I mean, thanks, but I got it.”
    Bobby, Jonas, and Nathan all looked at Leah confused. “A girl can never go too far wit hout her brush and things,” she said nervously, while patting the bag. She smiled and then swiftly headed toward the door. “I’ll see you guys later.”
    Nathan’s face continued to frown, but he turned his atte ntion to Jonas and Bobby after Leah closed the door. “So,” he sighed. “What did you guys want to talk about?”
    Bo bby stopped rubbing his elbow and with his left eyebrow raised, made a displeasing glare at Nathan.
    Nathan grinned. “I mean … what did you want to talk about, Jonas ?” he asked, placing an emphasis on the word “you.”
    Quietly, Jonas stared at him through his dark shaggy hair and his brown eyes slightly shivered in their sockets again. “D on’t you miss us!” he blurted.
    “Ugh!” said Bobby, rolling his eyes. “I don’t need to talk about anything!” Quickly, Bo bby launched forward from the balls of his feet. “Just give me the dang basketball!”
    “Aaaah!” Jonas moaned as Bobby crashed into him; cau sing the basketball underneath his arm to fly into the air.
    Quickly, Nathan ducked as the ball flew unexpectedly over his head. It hit the wall above his wooden desk and landed on top of the rose-colored picture frame.

 
    3
    P ROTECTING WITH SECRETS
    Nathan stood motionless as he stared at the shards of br oken glass and the pieces of red painted wood that lay strewn across his wooden desk. He was so still and his face so red that Bobby was scared Nathan would never breathe again. Slowly, Jonas’s stunned face gave way to a frown as he carefully stepped forward. He winced as he cautiously reached in front of Nathan to stop the rolling basketball from falling off the desk and on to the ground.
    “Umm, you can just buy a new one, right?” stammered Bobby. He paused, taking a m oment to look at Jonas. “I’ve been with Mom to this store near campus — to replace stuff I’ve broken at home.”
    Bobby inched closer. “And by the looks of it — it looks old anyway.” He shrugged and reached out for Jonas’s ba sketball again. “Mom always says there’s no use in crying over old stuff.”
    Jonas cringed and then turned around to shake his head at his little brother. “Umm, Nathan?” whispered Jonas. He swallowed hard, hesitating to speak. “Are you … okay?”
    “Well, at least the other one isn’t broken,” said Bobby, while looking over Jonas’s shoulder.
    Jonas turned around