An Autumn to Remember: A Novel (Elmtown Series Book 1) by Joy Galloway Read Free Book Online

veggies they serve at Valerie’s. You are lured by the bacon but when you bite into it, you feel your teeth bite into the hidden asparagus–maybe for the first time you realize asparagus doesn’t taste bad at all.” He watched as they all nodded. “The responses have been positive so far, at least from the audience at the club, though the older guys we play with are still a bit skeptical about the whole concept.”
       “Wow that sounds like fun and very innovative. But wait–is this something you wanna do part-time while you’re working in finance? Or is this really what you wanna do full time?” John asked.
    Speaking so passionately, it didn’t seem like Jamie wanted to do music part-time.
       “I’m still trying to figure that out,” Jamie said with a low tone. Something about this made him look and sound unsure. The truth was, he didn’t really have a plan and he didn’t really know what to do. His heart cried music but his head said finance. He had a mother to take care of. She was his responsibility and they had no one else but each other so he had to be pragmatic. Going straight into finance was much less risky; with the potential salary he could start on, they could both be out of their destitute situation in just one year. It just made more sense to go straight to Wall Street. His mother was depending on him. She sacrificed so much for him to get the best education available.
       “I am actually interested in the music business. My father’s company just bought a large chunk of Purple Jam Records and I’ve been tasked with running it till we find the right CEO.”
       “Oh good,” Jamie said wondering what that whole music business world was like.
       “Yes it is but finding talent that is ready to be marketed is pretty difficult,” John said. “If you’re interested I think we can work something out. Your ideas sound really interesting. I’d like to work with you.”
       “Oh really? Thanks. I’m interested in anything that could possibly help me get my foot in right now.”
       “Fantastic. We still have some legal work to do to tidy up the acquisition and we are trying to set up a new studio and office in Allen City so give me until January. I’ll come back to you with some good news.”
       “Wow. Thanks so much. You have no idea how big of a deal that would be. I will have graduated by then so it’ll be perfect timing.”
       “Hey hey hey, boys, what am I getting out of this deal exactly? You both wouldn’t have met without me,” Chelsea said.
       “You already have me baby. What you get out of the deal is me,” John said just pulling her leg.
       Chelsea and Amy later went down to get some potato chips and soda since no one was really hungry for real food.
       “Where in the world did you meet him again? That boy is so hot,” Amy said as Chelsea opened the fridge.
       “You know exactly how I met John, Amy,” Chelsea said, handing over two cans of Pepsi, “and stop looking at my boyfriend, I’m not sharing.”
       “No Chelsea, I meant Jamie, please don’t ever leave me alone in the room with him again–ever–I could have kissed him. He is so good looking and so intelligent. And then he’s into music too? You know how I feel about a man with a guitar. Lord help me.” She placed the lightly sweating Pepsi cans on the kitchen counter and fanned herself with her hands like she needed to cool down.
       “If only you were not dating anyone,” Chelsea said whispering and laughing quietly.
      “Gabe doesn’t have to know. Maybe I’ll just poison him so I can go out with Jamie for just one night,” Amy winked.
       “I see why everyone thinks you’re a nutcase.”
    When they rejoined the boys upstairs, they all talked some more until 3:00 p.m., then John had to leave. 
       “It was really good meeting you man–to finally meet the famous Jamie. We should hang out sometime and talk more about business. Here’s my card.”