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

day, I’d sit here and help him. Finally, he did it. He got his
hand to obey him and hold down the correct strings. The sound changed as I
strummed, and we played chords that didn’t add up to a song, just soft music.
    I had to concentrate too but my body was acutely aware of
his so close behind me. When he breathed, his body touched mine. His heat
warmed me. I closed my eyes, hearing the chords and feeling Marcus, wishing I
could pause time for a day.
    I tried to absorb the sounds of the strings and the feel of
Marcus so close to me, but he couldn’t play for long. I could tell he was
tiring, and then he dropped his hand with a sigh.
    “Babe,” he said softly. His tone made my stomach tighten.
    “Hmm?” I turned my face toward him. My cheek was almost
against his jawbone, his mouth so close.
    “First, I’m really sorry that my parents are so skeptical.
They could at least try to hide it.”
    I waited for him to say more, that maybe he agreed with
them. Please don’t. Please don’t say you’ve lost faith in what we shared .
Thankfully he didn’t say that.
    “I know they have your best interests in mind, even before
when they were…” I didn’t finish.
    “Well, I’m sorry about my dad and what he said.”
    “Thanks. I know it’s them and not you. Don’t feel bad when
it’s not your fault. I mean, when I think about my dad—” Why did I say that? I
really don’t need to deal with anything else today, so I quickly added, “I
can’t talk about him right now.”
    “I know.” His words were so soft and understanding that I
wanted to cry. He didn’t even add anything about saving it for later. “But, on
another important topic… You should finish the year, Ave,” Marcus said in a
kind tone. “It’s one term, right? Just three months till summer break. I don’t
want to pull you away from your life. You want to be a writer. You had plans. Have plans.”
    “I don’t need college for that.”
    After a few seconds of silence, I twisted enough to see him.
    He raised his eyebrows, his light brown eyes dancing with
some secret, it seemed. “Remember your promise?”
    “What?! That was before…”
    Did he really expect me to keep a promise I made when I
thought he was going to die?
    “You promised me you’d go after your dreams. That means
going back to school.” His stern look did weird things to me, things that made
it hard to be upset right now. I wanted to smile and smack him, and maybe even
kiss him, all at the same time.
    “That was before you woke up,” I reminded him again, my
voice stronger. “That was when I thought I had to go on without you.”
    “Your life is still your life, and you made a promise.” His
lips curved in the slightest smile.
    Was that a sad smile, like he was saying a real goodbye?
Maybe he had decided to listen to his dad.
    “Marcus, I don’t understand. After all we’ve been through, I
can’t leave you.”
    His eyes searched mine as his head tilted in confusion. He
started to form the word “what” but changed it.
    “Oh. Avery, baby, I’m not saying leave, leave. I’m saying
you need to go back to your life and get things back on track.”
    Cool relief trickled through me, but I still wasn’t sure.
Maybe he was breaking up with me, but in such a nice way I couldn’t tell. I
stared at his chest until his fingers touched my chin.
    “Babe, look at me.”
    “I put everything on the line to help you—to save you!” I
fought the tears pricking my eyes. I’d gotten too emotional over all of this.
    “I know. You’ve been my princess in shining armor. But,
listen, I can’t let you flunk out of school or lose all your friends. I blew
through your life like some kind of tornado, and I can’t live with myself if
you lose everything.”
    “I don’t want to lose you!” The tears won and plopped onto my
cheeks.
    Marcus leaned close to rest his forehead against mine.
    “I love you, Avery, and I won’t go anywhere. I promise. I’m
here for you.”
    I