In Her Dreams by Bolryder, Terry (the reader ebook .txt) 📕

wasn’t there sooner,” he says. “You know I would have had your side against Mark.”

I shrug nonchalantly. “I handled it.”

“A CNA, huh?” He looks at the hospital. “Cool job. You really came up in the world.”

“As much as I could while being a single mom.”

“Yeah, that’s hard,” he says sympathetically, taking a step forward.

I take an uneasy step back.

His face falls. “You don’t trust me?” He drops his hands to his sides, then shoves them in his pockets. “Look, I just want a chance to know my nephew. I know none of us deserve it, but doesn’t Joey deserve to know some of his family?” He cocks his head, giving me a look I’m sure he knows is rakish. “Not all of us are bad.”

I sigh, shoving a hand through my hair. So much has happened lately. I feel utterly overwhelmed.

I’m glad to know they think Mark was attacked by a homeless person, though.

Adam is still peering at me thoughtfully. “You don’t know anything about how Mark was attacked, do you? He was giving us a crazy story about someone whipping him and almost strangling him to death.”

“Right,” I say. “By a homeless person?”

Adam shrugs. “That’s what he said. But privately, he mentioned to me that it happened outside your house.”

I go silent, my hands tightening into fists.

“Jen, was he trying to attack you?” Adam asks, eyes concerned. “Do you need help… as more than an uncle?”

I exhale. “No. Joey and I can protect ourselves.”

“Is there another guy around?” Adam asks. “Because if a homeless guy can just attack Mark outside your house, he can attack you.”

I say nothing.

“Unless it wasn’t a homeless man,” Adam says.

I say nothing. I’m not very good with lies.

“Do you have a boyfriend now?”

I stare at him, consternated. “That’s none of your business.”

He smiles bashfully, rubbing the back of his neck. He’s blond, like Mark, with green eyes. “Well, you know, I always thought you were cute back in high school.”

I sigh. “That’s a million miles away now. And I have to get back to work.”

“Okay, okay, I get it,” he says. “You aren’t interested. Are you sure? I always thought you might have had a crush on me.”

I shake my head. “If I did, it was a long time ago.”

“All right,” he says. “I’ll let it go. I mean, you’re a gorgeous woman, and I thought I’d hit two birds with one stone. Date you. Meet my nephew.”

I shake my head. “That’s ridiculous.”

He shrugs. “We’re a little old to play games. You’re an attractive woman. I’m an attractive man. At least I think so.”

I laugh. “There’s a man, okay? I’m dating someone.”

“Ah,” he says. “Then even he should understand why a boy needs his uncle.”

I think about it for a moment. Reve can teach Joey how to be a dream fae warrior, but he can’t teach him about the human world.

It couldn’t hurt to have two good male role models, right?

At least Adam has been straightforward. He even asked about other intentions and respected my responses.

I guess just entertaining the idea of him having a relationship with Joey shouldn’t hurt.

“I don’t know, Adam. I’ll think about it.”

I turn to go back into work, and he calls out to stop me.

“I really am sorry, Jen,” Adam says, his face serious and solemn. “I wish I’d been there to protect you. I promise if you let me in your and Joey’s life, I will never cause you harm.”

I remember when this would have been a dream. When I was so alone and anyone offering me a way out of my marriage, a way to have a family outside of Mark or even romance, would have been amazing.

But I’m glad I saved myself back then. It made me who I am.

And now? Now things are complicated because I’m not the woman I used to be.

“I’ll think about it, Adam. That’s all I can tell you.”

Then I head back to work, already wishing to just go home and see Reve and Joey.

19

Reve

I check the clock on the repaired dash of the LeBaron, noting that Jen will be out any minute.

I leave the car, hiding the flowers I got for her behind my back.

Beautiful white, red, and pink roses. I do love human flowers.

I wait outside the car, leaning against it, watching the sliding doors where she’ll come out.

When my eyes fix on a shape with copper hair in blue scrubs, my heart starts to beat faster.

Then Jen appears, and my heart feels lighter. My whole world is better when I see her. When I know she’s safe.

I run forward and pick her up in a hug, swinging her around as she giggles. Her soft curves press against my body, and I inhale her sweet fragrance of violets and vanilla.

So good.

She feels like home.

And I’m still so nervous about how this night is going to go once I tell her what I have to tell her.

I hand her the flowers, and she gasps, then grins and takes them, inhaling deeply.

“These are gorgeous. Did you poof them?”

I shake my head. “I bought them with some human money we were given by Lorien’s brother.”

“Right, because he lives here too.” She’s oddly quiet today as I grab her hand and hold it as we walk to the car together.

“I have something to talk to you about,” we say at the same time just as we reach the car.

She lets out a relieved breath. “You go first.”

I come around to open the car door, and she gets in, then starts it as I get in too.

She looks over at me. “Did you do something? It sounds different.”

“I tinkered with the engine a bit,” I say.

She narrows her brown eyes at me, pushing back a lock of red hair. “I thought you weren’t going to use magic. How do I know it will work?”

“I had top scores in restoration,” I say. “But you’re right. I still wanted to earn you a human car with my own money, but it would take time, and