In My Dreams (First Tracks Book 2) Read Free

you down,” I said hoarsely.  
    Mom tilted her head, a tear rolling down one cheek. “Marcus,
you could never let us down. You’re worked harder than anyone I know.” She turned
to my dad and they took each other’s hands. “We thought we lost you, but now you’re
here and awake. That’s all that matters right now.”
    “We’ve always been so proud of you.” Dad stared down at the
floor for a long, silent minute. “Mom’s right. The rest can wait until later.”
    “Yes, we’re rushing this.” Mom patted my hand. “We don’t
know how you’re doing yet. You just woke up! Let’s be happy about that for
now.”
    I was. More than she knew. I was so happy to be awake,
alive, in one piece. My mind still felt foggy, but everything was starting to
come back and gel into a picture. God, a few days ago I thought I was going to
die. That was going to be it. And I had accepted it.
    “Yeah, I’m alive,” I said, laughing. Thanks to Avery, I was
alive. She fought like hell to save my life. “Listen, can you let me see Avery
again? That must have freaked her out when I didn’t remember her. I want to
make sure she’s okay.”
    Mom studied me for a minute while Dad got up. They weren’t
sure what to make of this. I wasn’t either. Not really. But I wasn’t going to
question it too much—Avery saved my life.

Chapter Two
     
    Avery
     
    The hospital felt like a funny mix of constant busyness and
stationary waiting, of voices and noise but also silence, of life changing
seriousness for the patients and families but just an ordinary workday for the
staff. I stood in the breezeway, gazing out a window at a blank sheen of gray
clouds, while conversations floated by behind me. 
    A touch on my arm made me jump and turn. Elaina smiled
uncertainty, and I noticed she had the same amber eyes as Marcus. So far my
impression of her was a soft, sweet woman, but I think there must be a strong
streak in there somewhere. There had to be since she raised a son like Marcus.
    “Oh, sorry, honey, I didn’t mean to startle you. He wants to
see you.”
    I nodded and mumbled thanks as I hurried back to his room.
Even now, it was a shock to see him lying there with the bruises on his face,
the cast on his arm, and mostly the open eyes looking at me.
    “Come here.” Marcus tried for a smile and held a hand out to
me. “I need you.”
    I sat on his beside him and lay down, carefully arranging
myself around him. “Think they’ll give us a while?” I asked softly, hoping my
voice didn’t sound too emotional.
    “Yeah.” His voice was barely a whisper. He rubbed circles on
my back while I hung onto him. I listened to him breathe and felt the rise and fall
of his chest under me. I wanted to hold him and feel him, to know he was really
here and not going anywhere. Then he asked, “What are you thinking?”
    “I’m just so happy to feel you against me.” A second later I
laughed lightly. “And guess what? I can have secrets now.”
    He fell quiet and my laugh died. That felt strange too—now
we’d have to share our thoughts if we wanted the other to know, and now we had
the option to hold some thoughts back.
    “Do you want secrets?” he asked, his voice more serious than
I liked.
    “I didn’t mean it like that.” I lifted my head to look into
his eyes for a minute before lying on his chest again. “I just meant, now you
don’t know every thought running through my head.”
    He gave a small chuckle. “Goes two ways, Tiger Lily.”
    A chill ran down my back, under the spot where he rubbed. It
was just a joke. We were both adjusting to this, figuring it out, but I wanted
to hear his thoughts behind the comment. Did he have things to hide? We’d
gotten to know each other so well, so intimately, that I couldn’t imagine not
experiencing life on a thought by thought basis with him. Would we lose our
connection, our closeness?
     “So what are you thinking?”
    He laughed. “The same, I guess. I’m so happy to hold you