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

one side behind my ear.
    Voices came through the door, and then Tom and Elainastepped inside with a thirty-something male doctor. I
tried to fight the way my stomach tightened, but Tom startled me. The glare on
his glasses hid his eyes, and his short, gray hair somehow made him look creepy
just then.
    I moved back and sat in a chair across from the bed, giving
them space. The young doctor gave Marcus a big smile, displaying perfectly
straight, white teeth. He was surprisingly handsome, like he should be on that
show Grey’s Anatomy .
    “Hello, Marcus, you probably don’t remember meeting me
before.” He approached Marcus with his hand out to shake. “Dr. Michaels. It’s a
real pleasure to meet you. I watched you compete in the Olympics, and man, I’m
impressed.”
    Marcus simply nodded, his mouth tightening. He’d been so
outgoing and laid back in my head, so it hurt my heart to see him more
withdrawn like this. That comment probably reminded him that he couldn’t do
those physical things right now. I didn’t want to think about the future and
all the if’s.  
    The doctor turned to me. “I’m Dr. Michaels.”
    “Avery.” I shook his hand too, wondering if anyone would
explain who I was, or if it mattered. “Nice to meet you.”
    He smiled brightly before turning back to his patient. If
he’d been clued into the drama surrounding me, he wasn’t letting on.  
    “So, Marcus, let’s see how you’re doing. I bet you have all
kinds of questions too. So we’ll take things slow, check your responses and
stats, and go from there. Sound good?” He was ready to start.
    Marcus, on the other hand, turned white. “Hey, doc, do we
need everyone here?”
    His question got the kind of response you’d expect. I wasn’t
the only one who did a double take at him. He kept his eyes on Dr. Michaels,
trying to ignore our responses
    “Ah, sure. I don’t see why that’s a problem.” The doctor
turned to face the rest of us, a message to head out. Marcus looked up at me,
and I’d swear he was trying to cover fear. I stepped closer and squeezed his
hand before leaving.
    He watched me go but I had no clue what was going on inside
his head. Why was that freaking me out so bad?
    In the hallway, his parents walked close together, talking
quietly. Tom’s deep voice carried back to me, and I swear I caught the words I’ll
get her out of here …
    I stood frozen, watching them, everything inside me sinking.
How much sway did they have over Marcus? He seemed like his own person to me
but I didn’t have the best feeling about this.
    I turned in the other direction, wondering what I’d do while
waiting, and found Jen standing behind me. Judging from her blank face, I
decided she hadn’t heard her father.
    Her blue eyes were startlingly blue, and not just for the
vivid color. They were crystalline and sparkly. I had a hard time not staring.
    “Hey,” she said softly. “Walk with me?”
    At least she wasn’t siding with her parents, as far as I
could tell.
    “Sure.” We gave each other a soft smile and started off the
other way together, walking slow like two friends. Just that small act
bolstered my spirits.
    A strange mix of cafeteria food and antiseptic scent filled
the hallway, reminding me of the school cafeteria from grade school. I suppose
it’s a hospital smell too. Smelling it felt gross and comforting at the same
time, making me start to laugh.
    “Does this feel weird to you?” Jen asked, giving me a raised
eyebrow for the laugh.
    I laughed again. It felt good. “I don’t know what to think
about everything…but, he’s okay.”
    She turned to me with big, open eyes so I couldn’t look away.
    “How did that happen?” she asked, her palm out. “How did Marcus
find you and… live in your head?”
    It took me a minute to process everything she was asking.
    “He didn’t find me, I don’t think.” We walked around
a corner while I thought. “He was as confused as I was, maybe more because he
couldn’t