Born 01 - Born

to the bonfire. Jake is already playing the guitar. Apparently they're a musical family. Anna is sitting on a log waiting for me. When I sit she passes me a glass of cider. It tastes like it has liquor added to the already strong cider.
    Will carries his guitar over and sits beside Jake. They smile at each other. Will joins in and starts singing. Their fingers move fast. Meg smacks a tambourine.
    "This was our dad's favorite song. Group called The Lumineers. They were huge in 2012. Dad and Jake and Will saw them live in Denver." Will's voice is perfect for the song. He and Jake sing, shouting something about Ho and Hey. I am in love with them and how big they make my world feel.
    People are dancing around the fire and drinking. I feel like I'm camping, not hiding in the woods as the word falls apart.

Chapter Nineteen

    I watch Sarah and Leo splashing around the swimming hole. Her dog paddle matches his.
    Jake sits next to me. "You avoiding me?"
    Heat creeps up my cheeks. "No. I just, you know. I just…well. No." I am an idiot most times. Boys seem to make it worse. Unless I'm punching them in the face.
    He laughs, "You are. I'm sorry I kissed you that day. If I'd known you were going to get weird, I wouldn’t have done it."
    I glance at him without taking my eyes off Sarah and Leo. "Don't be sorry. I'm glad you kissed me." Maybe I should just punch him in the mouth.
    His goofy smile makes my face hotter. His eyes make me happy. He's sweet and honest and I love him. I know I do. I look at his lips and I have the funniest feeling in my belly.
    He leans in to kiss me, but I pull back and look at Sarah. "Not in front of her."
    He looks down. "Sorry. I forgot you're a role model now."
    The idea of it makes me laugh. "Yes. Either there is no God at all or He has a great sense of humor."
    Sarah splashes Leo and he swims to the shore. He shakes and splashes dog water on us. I put my hands out as if they will stop the flood of raindrops being fired at us. He makes his silly wolf face and shakes once more.
    "You little brat."
    He pads to where I am and lies in the sun.
    Sarah swims to the flat rock and looks at us. Her blue eyes sparkle in the sun like Jake's.
    "You guys kind of look related," she says.
    I look at Jake and raise an eyebrow.
    He wraps an arm around me. "Maybe one day we will be. By marriage."
    I squirm out of his arms. "You're a goof."
    Anna comes down the path. "Hey, guys."
    She pulls her shirt off and her pants down. She jumps in the water. A flash of beige underwear and a white tank top fill my view.
    Jake covers his eyes. "It burns. It burns. Why don’t the villagers knit swimsuits? Jesus."
    Anna laughs and splashes us. "Yeah, because I would wear knitted undies, moron."
    She swims in a circle and smiles at me. "I love this place."
    "It's pretty awesome." I say.
    "Are we staying here?" Sarah asks and pulls herself up onto the rock. She lies next to Leo in the sun. I can tell by the shift in his position that Jake is uncomfortable. Underwear isn’t great coverage.
    I look at the water and nod slowly. "You and Anna and Meg are. I have to go and free the women from the breeder camps.",
    Jake looks back at me. He disapproves. "You aren’t doing anything that involves that place."
    I look at him but don’t bother starting an argument. I know what I have to do. Instead, I smile softly. "Jake, you and Will are amazing musicians."
    His cheeks redden. "Yeah, Dad was big on music. Only Miss Thang over there and Mom were non-musical. Me and Dad and Will were always playing instruments."
    Sarah grins at him. "Can you teach me?"
    He nods. "Yeah, maybe I can teach you and Emma at the same time. You know, this week sometime."
    I glance at Jake and try to ignore his incredibly long eyelashes or grin. "I'm going up."
    He stands awkwardly. His leg is still not one hundred percent. "I'll come with you."
    "Anna, can you hang with Sarah and make sure she doesn’t drown?"
    "Yup."
    Jake takes my hand in his and pulls me up the hill. "Want to take a nap like the one we had on the couch at the farmhouse?"
    I chuckle. "No, I want to find out what the capabilities are of the camps. We're going to need help."
    He kisses my hand. "I think the nap is a great way to brainstorm."
    I grimace at his lips on my hand. "I don’t know the last time I washed that."
    He spits on the ground. "You are the least tactful person I've ever met."
    I grin. "I was raised by wolves. What do you expect?"
    He laughs and pulls me into his arms. He