Page 51 of See You in Your Dreams

“Oh, Ash.”

To my utter astonishment, rough hands spin me around. Before I can fully process what’s happening, Dylan has me wrapped in a tight embrace, cradling my head with one hand and the small of my back with the other. All the tension whooshes out of me in a sudden gust as I sag against him.

“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner,” I say, my voice hoarse with clogged emotion. “But Harvey’s just the tip of the iceberg. Before him, back when I still lived with my parents…” I swallow,darkness threatening to drag me under. “Well, let’s just say things got a whole lot worse.”

“It’s okay,” Dylan says, stroking my back. “Sorry for pushing you. I promise I won’t bring it up again—not without a good reason.” He hesitates. “Though, for the record, I stand by what I said. I know it’s scary, but that’s all the more reason to learn everything you can. And who knows? When you do finally face that fear, maybe you’ll discover you have more control than you thought.”

Remembering my mom’s dull face, her body splayed atop her blanket like a life-sized doll, I shudder. “Yeah. Maybe.” Forcing the memory away, I snake my hand under the hem of Dylan’s shirt, tracing the edge of his hip.

Dylan sucks in a breath, a sudden heat transforming his eyes into molten gold. “Are you trying to distract me?” he murmurs.

My other hand cups his ass and squeezes as I step in closer to him, rubbing up against him. “Yep,” I breathe against his cheek, kissing a line up his jaw. “Is it working?”

Growling, he writhes against me. “Definitely. Though it’s not fair when you know nothing can come from it right now.”

I open my mouth to make a lewd joke, but before I can, footsteps resound on the stairs. We jerk apart, both of us attempting to adjust and smooth out any wrinkles in our clothes.

Aunt Claudette appears in my doorway a moment later. “Hey boys,” she says while Onyx lets out a pleasedmeowand scampers over, winding against her leg. If she’s surprised to see Dylan here, she doesn’t let it show. Which…fair, considering he’s been here almost every day the past couple weeks. “I was thinking of baking some scones. Either of you want any?”

“No thanks, Ms. Brown,” Dylan says, a slight flush in his neck the only sign of what we’d been up to.

I shake my head, muffling a snort at his awkwardness. “Nah, I’m fine.”

“Suit yourselves,” Aunt Claudette says, turning back toward the stairs. “They’ll be ready in about an hour if you change your minds.”

I watch her depart before turning back to Dylan, meeting his grin with one of my own. I’d told my aunt I was fine, and for the first time in what feels like forever, I think I might actually mean it.

nineteen

Dylan

I’m settling into mysecond period American Lit class when I first notice the whispers. I glance over to see Sarah and Emily leaned in close a couple seats away, talking too quietly for me to understand. Looking around the room, they don’t seem to be the only ones either. Elliot and Claire are quietly conspiring as well, along with a handful of others.

“Any idea what everyone’s so interested in today?” I ask, leaning toward Alexis seated beside me.

“No clue.” A slight frown purses her lips. “Though if you ask me, this school is entirely too obsessed with gossip. I mean, just look at you and Ash.”

My brows scrunch together. “You think this has something to do with us?”

“Of course not,” she says, the long sleeves of her embroidered dress flapping as she makes a soothing gesture. “You two are old news by now. But I’m certain whatever’s caught the school’s collective fancy now is just as silly.”

“Yeah, you’re probably right.” I settle back in my seat as Mrs. King rises at the front of the room, calling us to order.

I try to focus on the discussion about the latest book we’ve been reading, but now that Alexis has planted the idea, I can’t help but wonder if it really is me and Ash my classmates are discussing, even if I have no clue why. Like Alexis said, our relationship is several weeks old. Nobody still cares…do they?

After class, I say goodbye to Alexis and let her know Ash and I will meet her and the others for lunch. Now that they’ve officially met, we eat lunch with them every other day or so. I’m genuinely amazed at how well they get along when Ash isn’t determined to be a jerk.

As I’m navigating the hall toward the gym for third-period PE, I catch a snippet of passing conversation.

“…car crash…”

I stumble, forcing myself to keep walking.Car crash?Isthatthe current rumor floating around school? Hopefully, no one got seriously hurt, but at least that means Alexis is right—it has nothing to do with Ash and me.

Relaxing, I make my way into the gym, my sneakers scuffing against the polished floor as I perch on a bench in the bleachers. I’ve still got a couple minutes until class starts, so I open my backpack and take out my half-finished Calc homework. Maybe I can get enough done that I don’t need to work through lunch.

You haven’t seen Ash yet today.

The faint thought sends my pencil skittering across the page. It’s not that unusual for Ash and me to miss seeing each other until fourth period since Econ is the first class we share and I’m usually racing to get to school on time after dealing with Patrick in the morning.