The Girl in My Dreams Read Online Free Page A

chest, and my armpits were starting to sweat so badly that I thought I’d leave a puddle on the seat.
    “Why, are you going?” she asked.
    “Well, maybe. I was just going to ask if you wanted to go together, but you’re busy,” I said.
    “No, I’m only doing that for like half an hour of the time. I was just going to hang out with the girls, but I’d rather hang out with you,” she said.
    With my drink in my mouth, I coughed a little, as the words that just entered my brain were far different than anything I ever expected.
    “Are you okay?” she asked, handing me a napkin.
    “Yeah,” I spurted out before coughing into the napkin and wiping my mouth.
    Looking back at Belle, I knew that I’d finally gotten the chance I’d wanted for so many years. It wasn’t a date or anything, at least I didn’t think so, but it was a chance to spend more time with Belle, and I’d take that above anything else.
    “I’d love to go with you,” I said.
    “Great,” she said with a smile. “We’ll be able to hang out for about an hour before I’ll have the routine, and then we can get back together afterward and go on rides and stuff. It’ll be fun. I’m looking forward to it.”

Chapter Three
    Two weeks had passed since our after-school meal at Dairy Queen and things couldn’t have been going better. As time went by, Belle and I spent more of our free time together, building back a bridge that had been worn down all those years ago. She’d been taking my advice and not talking to Trent, even though he’d been trying hard to get back with her.
    Dodging him at school wasn’t as easy, but even her friends, who were all for her and him being together at first, had started to keep her away so that he’d get the hint and move on to the next girl. Things between us hadn’t been romantic—far from it—but I’d say that they were moving in the right direction.
    “So, you two are still on, right?” Martin asked as he sat on my bed the day of the fair.
    “Yeah, at least I think so. She hasn’t said anything about not going,” I said.
    “Man, can you believe it? A few weeks ago you were just Theodore Quinn, below-average guy, and now you’re Theodore Quinn , the guy about to go out with the prettiest girl in school. I wish I were you right now,” Martin said.
    “I’m not sure if that’s a compliment or not, but I’ll take it,” I said, looking through my closet.
    I was never the type of guy to worry too much about my clothes or appearance, at least not as much as most guys my age, but I couldn’t help but put some serious effort into tonight. I knew I didn’t need to impress her or anything, but it never hurt to look nice and presentable. My mom even took me out shopping after my last therapy session and got me a new button-up shirt to wear for tonight. She couldn’t stop going on about how much she loved that the two of us were back together like we used to be. It got a little annoying, but it kept her from talking about my dad, so that was good.
    “I wish I was going with a girl tonight,” Martin said.
    “You are,” I replied.
    “My sister doesn’t count, Theo. Not even close. I’d rather go alone than take that brat,” he said.
    Martin’s disdain for his little sister mostly came from her inability to ever cut him any slack. He may have been six years older, but that girl had a bunch of vinegar in her that could never be diluted. She struck fear in him that I’d never seen in another human before.
    “Hey, at least you have a sister. I’d kill for one—even yours,” I said.
    “Hey, man, you can have her. I don’t mind. I’ll even drop her off at your door tonight with the white-glove treatment. Doesn’t bother me one bit!” he exclaimed.
    Laughing, I put on my dress shirt and combed my hair, even though one spot in the back stuck up like always. Martin had brought me some of his cologne, a spiced scent that tingled my nose and caused me to sneeze, and I put on some lip balm, though for