In My Dreams (First Tracks Book 2) Read Online Free PDF

the last month of that term, so my grades might have taken
a sharp nosedive.
    “Isn’t it important to be there for the beginning?” Tom
asked, and again it wasn’t a question. He was in full lecture mode. It’s been
years since I had a parent to give me advice, wanted or not, so I didn’t know
how to respond. I was braced for Tom to rant on, but just then I caught Marcus
giving him a small shake of his head.
    A long pause fell. I was getting real tired of those. All
this awkward conversation and waiting around.
    “Why aren’t you there?” Marcus finally asked me directly. I
could read the disappointment and guilt in his eyes.
    “I need to be here. I mean, I want to be here.” I held still
while I wanted to shrug. I wasn’t going to apologize or make it seem like I
would be anywhere else.
    Marcus had an intense look in his eyes, making them darker.
    “How much class have you missed?” he asked.
    I didn’t want Tom hearing this, especially when I had no
idea. Marcus saw me hesitating and gave his dad a tilt of his head and lifted
eyebrow.
    “I’ll let you two talk,” Tom said, getting up. “Avery…it’s
not really my business, but don’t you think the right choice is to get back to
class as soon as possible?”
    I was too shocked at his directness to answer, and he walked
out.
    I didn’t owe him an answer. It’s my life. But now he had ammo
to force me to leave, which was what he really wanted.
    But how could I leave? There was no way I could concentrate
on schoolwork or even sit still in class. I tried to think while opening my
mouth, but Marcus beat me to speaking.
     “Will you bring it over here?” he asked, nodding toward
something.
    “Your guitar?” I asked. Really? Weren’t we going to talk
about college? I couldn’t imagine him just dropping the topic but I didn’t mind
putting it off either.
    “Yeah.” He made his bed raise more. I forced my gaze to stay
away from his cast as I retrieved his guitar.
    “Sit here.” He patted the bed as he scooted up, positioning
himself so I could sit between his legs. Nestling up to him sent a warm shiver
up my back. This still felt so new and different. We’re really both here,
real, touchable.
    He had to move around more so his cast wasn’t in the way,
and then his chest was mostly touching my back, sending jolts of pleasure up
and down my body. I expected to feel awkward holding the guitar, but it felt
almost natural after all the times I had played with him. Or rather, he played
using my hands.
    His hand brushed my cheek and then pulled my hair back to
sweep it over the other shoulder. Then his breath caressed my neck.
    My eyes closed. It was pain and pleasure and want all rolled
together—and I was freefalling in all of it. This was so immense, so consuming.
A second passed and his lips pressed into my neck.
    I gasped so loud we both jumped.
    Marcus chuckled by my ear, activating every nerve in my
body.
    More. I wanted more of him, more of his breath and
mouth on my skin, his lips on my lips, his hands on me.
    “Remember how to strum?” he whispered.
    If I could clear my head, I might remember… I nodded, a
small movement so I wouldn’t bump into him.
    “Slow and steady at first. Let’s see if this works.”
    I began to strum. Nothing fancy, just moving my thumb up and
down. Marcus used his left hand to tune the guitar by twisting the knobs at the
top. His hand looked unsteady and didn’t grasp the little tuners quite right,
but he worked at it until the chord sounded perfect. I patiently moved my hand,
letting the strings sing into the room. The sound soothed me, reminded me of
time we spent together already, reminded me of a world that Marcus took me
into.
    He put his hand to the stem. Sitting like we were, I
couldn’t see his expression, but the way he moved his hand moved made me think
it was difficult for him. I kept strumming but the chords sounded off.
    I gritted my teeth instead of flinching or turning my head.
If it took all