The Invasion of Adam (Tork and Adam Book 2) by Claire Davis, Al Stewart Read Free Book Online Page A

me, because I do.”
    Adam grabbed him back, blinking hard.
    “Hey, what do you mean—you’re starting college in January? You got accepted?”
    “Yes. I got the letter today. Your boyfriend is coming after your butt, Adam. You better pass these exams, because I told you. I am not going out with a dropout.”
    Adam pushed him hard against the bed. “You’re coming to college?” he shouted.
    “Yes. Different department to yours, but…yes.”
    “But that’s fucking awesome! We need to celebrate, with…with champagne and a posh dinner!”
    “We are poor, remember? I can make us gruel and tea, though. How does that sound?”
    Adam held him down and kissed Tork until they were both breathless. “Does this mean you’ll come to the Summer Ball dance with me?”
    “I don’t think so, Adam. I’m sorry, but I don’t think I could. Going to meetings and lectures will be hard enough.”
    Adam knew he was right. He pushed away the disappointment, hoping it didn’t show on his face. “Yeah, it’s OK. So, you’re gonna move to the college residential halls?”
    Tork shook his head, and Adam watched the familiar cloud of anxiety fall.
    “I don’t know yet. Anna is helping me sort all that out. She said I can stay here for a while, to see how it goes.”
    “Oh. Great!”
    Tork stroked his cheek. “Sorry. I know I’m not the boyfriend you want.”
    “Don’t say that! Of course you are. I was just thinking about you getting to college, that’s all. It’s a long way from here.”
    But Tork just smiled, and Adam felt like shit.
    “So, about this gruel?” he said. “I’m starving.” He wondered if gruel was some kind of exotic stew. Tork’s room always smelt of spices. “It’s not cat curry, is it?”
    Tork sniggered.

* * *

Invasion
    Paper Heart, Paper Heart,
    Who has sent me love?
    Is he broken,
    is he bright?
    Give me a sign
    And he’ll be mine.
     
     
    Noah Homes
    * * *

Chapter Seven
Tork
    “How does it usually work?” he asked Mike, not really wanting to hear the answer but knowing he had to.
    “Well, depends. I could give you his address and leave it to you, or if you want, I can contact him for you.”
    Tork nodded and thought how easy it all sounded. “OK. Give me the details, and I will write to him. Maybe he doesn’t want to see me? I just don’t know.”
    “Just one piece of advice, son. Don’t go alone the first time, eh? It can be hard—much harder than you expect. Have someone with you, in case it’s all too much.” Mike smiled at him meaningfully. “And Tork? Plan a nice treat for after. In case it doesn’t go as you’d like.”
    Tork nodded. “Good idea, Mike. I will. Adam gets his results today so we will be celebrating anyway.” His hands didn’t even shake as he took the paper, but he was aware of Mike’s watchful eyes. “Thank you, Mike. Thank you, again.”
    “That’s OK. I don’t need any thanks. Just seeing you back on your feet will get me through the next year. I just…” Mike stopped, and chewed his lip.
    “Go on,” Tork said, his heart beginning to hammer. Always he thought there would be a splinter—a ‘but’ that would come crashing down from space, taking away and smashing.
    “Nothing, nothing, don’t look so worried. It’s just that I would hate for you to take a step backwards after meeting up with your dad, son. I’ve seen it happen so many times. Family…well. Blood is not always thicker than water, eh? Some people are best left.”
    “For sure,” Tork said, thinking of the letters he never showed his mum.
    His fault.
    “You make sure you talk it through with your therapist and Adam, OK? And prepare yourself, just in case it doesn’t go as planned. Promise me?”
    “Yes. I promise,” Tork said.
    “You’ve told Adam?”
    “Yes. A bit. Not much. Just that we lost touch.”
    As Tork left with the papers in his hand, he knew he had to do it that day, before he lost his nerve. If he did it quickly, he could be back in time for