Page 59 of See You in Your Dreams

Closing my eyes, I gather my power about myself like a shroud and will myself to wake. Just like that, I blink and discover I’m back in my bed, Dylan a comforting weight against my back.

He must notice a shift in my breathing because he asks, “Ash? Are you awake? What happened?”

“I’m here,” I reply. I bite my bottom lip, hesitating before I add, “I found her.”

I feel him tense against me. “And? How’d it go?”

“I failed. I wasn’t strong enough.” Shifting, I turn over to face him. I link my arms behind his back and rest my face in the crook of his neck, inhaling his familiar scent as determination grips me. “But I will be.”

twenty-one

Dylan

I hurry up thepath to Ash’s house, panting to catch my breath amid the judging stares of his aunt’s garden gnomes. I practically ran here from home, and I’m still over an hour late.

First, the pork chops took way longer to bake than I expected. Then, Patrick needed help with his algebra homework, and fat chance Tommy would’ve had a clue how to solve forx. Not that that stopped him from giving me a hard time on my way out the door for ‘leaving them high and dry again.’

Guilt curdles my gut as I knock, shifting anxiously from foot to foot while the wind chimes perform their tinkling dance. Tommy’s an ass, but I really do wish I could do more for Mom. She’d been disappointed when I cut back my hours with Dr. Jenkins, but I can tell she appreciates the extra help.

I’m sure it’ll be the same when I eventually muster the courage to tell her I’m delaying college. That extra money will do wonders for her and Patrick.

Of course, tonight it’s Ash that needs my help.

The lock clicks, and I straighten my back, plastering on a smile as the door opens to reveal Ash’s aunt. “Hi, Ms. Brown. Sorry I’m late. Saturday nights are always pretty hectic at my house.”

“I can imagine.” She frowns and shakes her head, her heavy jewelry clattering. “I still can’t believe Frank would leave you all high and dry like that. What a terrible thing to do to one’s family.” She gets a slightly distant look in her eye. “If we won’t look out for each other, then who will?”

I swallow a sudden lump in my throat, unable to formulate a response.

After a few heartbeats, she seems to notice my reaction and smiles apologetically, gesturing for me to enter. “Forgive my big mouth. Your family life is none of my business. I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable.”

“It’s okay,” I say, following her inside. “You’re right—things have been rough since Dad left. But we’re managing.”

“Glad to hear it. Have a seat. I’ll let Ash know you’re here.”

I sit on a plush chair in the living room, admiring the esoteric knickknacks on display while Ms. Brown moves to the stairs. It’s really too bad Ash isn’t more into the occult—I’d have loved to look through all this stuff with him. Then again, now that I know his secret, I can understand his hesitation.

Ash’s aunt reaches the bottom of the stairs. I expect her to start up them, but instead, she rests a hand on the banister and shouts, “Ash! Company!”

A few seconds later, I hear thecreakof a door opening, followed by stomping footsteps. I grin when Ash comes into view, already dressed in plaid pajama bottoms and a plain white t-shirt with his black hair a tangled mess. Onyx trails after him, winding around his feet.

“You know, you could come knock like a normal person,” he grumbles.

His aunt snorts. “And risk interrupting a teenage boy doing God knows what with his door closed? No thanks.”

Crimson creeps over his cheeks. “I wasdrawing.”

“Then, I guess it won’t kill you to come down and greet your friend,” she retorts, a twinkle in her eye. “Saves my knees a trip up the stairs.”

Ash rolls his eyes, a faint smile tugging at his lips. “Be honest—you just like the excuse to yell.”

His aunt matches his grin with one of her own. “What can I say, I’m a simple gal who enjoys simple pleasures.” She turns and nods at me. “You know the routine by now, Dylan—go ahead and make yourself at home. If you boys need anything, I’ll be in the kitchen.”

“Thanks, Ms. Brown.”

She hobbles past me into the hall, and I turn to Ash. His face softens as he regards me, his entire body relaxing as some hidden tension eases. My heart warms at the obvious proof of how happy he is to see me.

“Hi,” he says.