Dreams (New Beginnings Book 3) Read Online Free Page B

because he wouldn’t want to be dead,” she snapped, closing her book. This conversation again, she thought .
    “ He also wouldn’t want you giving up everything that makes you you . Swimming … drawing … even smiling.” She reached out to touch her daughter’s cheek, but then drew her arm back.
    “First of all, I don’t swim anymore because I graduated high school. Drawing doesn’t hold an appeal. And smiling, well, there’s just nothing left to smile about.”
    “That’s where you’re wrong. You still have your family. You’re alive. Even Danny should still make you smile. His memory. Honey, it’s been over a year. I just want to see you at least trying to move on.”
    Taylor stood, wanting to get away from her mother. The worst thing was that she knew her mom was right. She always was. But, she couldn’t feel anything these days. She knew they loved her, yet she didn’t feel loved. She knew this was a fresh start, but hope eluded her. Thinking of Danny made her both want to smile and cry, cancelling each other out and not allowing her to do either.
    “Robin?” Taylor’s dad’s voice sounded from downstairs.
    “Up here, Doug,” her mom called back.
    “You ladies ready to go?”
    Taylor’s mom looked at her pointedly and she nodded. They walked down the stairs in silence before Taylor got into her car and followed her parents towards her new school. The tower where Taylor would live for the school year was only about a twenty-minute drive.
    She waited in line to get her key while her parents started unloading the cars. Surrounded by other students, Taylor found herself unable to look any of them in the eye.
    She retrieved her key and before long, she was standing outside her new room with her family close behind. They set down their heavy loads as soon as they were through the door to the suite. Six girls would be sharing this living space as well as the bathroom.
    Her room was the third one back. As she pushed open the door, she was all but accosted by a tall girl with curly blond hair that bounced as she walked. She threw her long arms around Taylor and squeezed once before letting go.
    “Oh my God, hi!” She spoke with a thick southern drawl. “You must be my roommate!”
    “Yeah.” Taylor adjusted her glasses and looked down at her feet.
    “I’m Abigail.” The girl didn’t seem to sense Taylor’s discomfort as she remained close. “Abigail Stewart.”
    “This is Taylor Scott.” Mom in for the save.
    Taylor finally looked up and met Abigail’s shockingly blue eyes, who was pulling on one of her curls as she regarded the quiet girl in front of her and then it bounced back into place.
    Taylor’s dad walked in and dumped the final load on her bed.
    “I’m Evie!” Evie stepped between the girls and looked up at Abigail as if she couldn’t believe she wasn’t introduced.
    “Nice to meet you, Evie.” Abigail stifled a laugh.
    “Well, Tay, we’re going to go now that you’re settled.” Her dad kissed the top of her head.
    “Love you, sweetie.” Her mom gave her a tight hug.
    “Bye,” Taylor said quietly.
    “Aren’t you coming with us, sissy?” Evie asked, her eyes growing wider.
    Taylor bent down and hugged her sister. “I’ll come see you soon.”
    She watched as her family exited the room, leaving her with this complete stranger that was bubbly and excited. Basically everything Taylor was not.
    “So, there’s this party tonight,” Abigail said.
    Taylor groaned and flopped down on her bed.
    ###
     
    “And here in the wild, we have a Taylor Scott. These animals are dangerous, but they’re an endangered species, with only one of their kind anywhere in the world.” The camera spun from a laughing Taylor to Danny, the speaker.
    His grin lit up the screen on Taylor’s laptop.
    “You bet your ass I’m dangerous.” Taylor stood and walked towards the camera that was now pointed at her again.
    They were outside at the Jones’ house, hanging by the pool. Danny used