Read Online In My Dreams (First Tracks Book 2) by Kristen James - Free Book Online

why he was asking? I puzzled over it, realized I was
overthinking it like I usually do, and then answered: I don’t think so. I’ll
let you know. Thanks so much.
    When his next text came, it wasn’t what I expected.
    I’m happy to help you.
    Help me, not Avery?
    Could he actually be over her? I know how mad he was after
the coast trip when Kyle kissed Avery…or Avery kissed Kyle, according to
Kristina’s point of view. Whatever happened, somehow it brought out the whole
thing about Marcus in Avery’s head—at least Nash heard about it. Kristina never
did. Shit, it was a lot of drama.
    Part of me hoped Avery wouldn’t make it back today, or at
all, so Nash would keep talking to me instead of directly to Avery. The rest of
me felt horrible for feeling that way of course. I wanted Avery to come back
and catch up in school and fix things with Kristina. We were all so tight, and
now Kristina was avoiding all of us. I haven’t talked to Dawn because she was
more Kristina’s friend, but she was still a part of our group.
    Avery’s been gone. The guys are gone for good, but I’m not
sure if I regret that. Kyle was a prick and Steve was a dumb jock that didn’t
have any of his own ideas. I haven’t asked Dawn if she’s still seeing him.
    I do regret making that phone call to the Portland hospital
about Avery. I totally betrayed her. Yeah, I was worried she’d lost it. I was
worried she’d make a fool of herself or even worse, put herself or Marcus in
danger somehow. I was freaked out about the whole thing, worse than I’ve ever
been in my life.
    I caught myself sighing and sunk down into my seat. Tony
even paused his lecture to stare at me. It probably sounded like I was bored
out of my mind. The truth is I’m getting a little panicky from running all of
this through my head.  
    I shouldn’t have come to class; I haven’t heard a word of
the lecture. I glanced around. Everyone was staring ahead blankly, writing
notes, or covertly tapping on their phones.
    I spaced the entire rest of class and bolted when it ended.
Outside, overcast clouds made it feel too bright. Maybe I just needed to go
home and take a nap. Maybe restart my day. I turned to head back the other way
and bumped into someone.
    “Sorry—Nash?”
    “Hi… I wanted to make sure you were okay.”
    We both stared. What could I say after our earlier
conversation?
    “I’m fine.” People streamed by as we stood still. I couldn’t
take any more of this, whatever it was, and started walking away.
     A minute later I glanced back. He’d walked down the path
but looked back just as I did.
    What the hell was going on between us?
     

Chapter Nine
     
    Avery
     
    It’s a strange thing to come home when you’re a completely
different person and everything has changed. I sat in the idling car on the
street. The house stood there looking the same, and somehow the dissidence of
it all split me down the middle.
    Still, I pushed that aside, pulled into the garage and turned
off the car, and started gathering things to take inside. It’d gotten messy
between running up to Portland, the coast, back to Portland…
    Too bad Portland and Ashland are on opposite sides of the
state and five hours apart. Portland is literally at the very north point while
Ashland is just a few miles short of the southern border with California. At
least they’re both on I-5.
    “Avery?” Jazz’s soft voice sounded surprised.
    I turned around and couldn’t hold back a smile of pleasure. She
had her long black hair up in a knot like she does when she draws, and she wore
a long shirt over leggings.
    “Jazz, oh my gosh, I’m glad to see your face.” I stepped
over and grabbed her in a hug before she could argue.
    A minute later she pulled back. “So you’re really not mad?”
    “Mad?” I really hoped it wouldn’t be weird between us. I
needed a friend. “Jazz…”
    “I totally turned you in.” Remorse filled her fine features,
crinkling her face.
    “Well, what were you