Christopher and Jaime (Pianos and Promises #1) by Jennifer Peel Read Free Book Online Page A

If it’s a matter of money, I talked to Gran and she said if that’s what Jaimes really wants they would work something out with her, but she’s being stubborn. She can see the world after she goes to school.
    I had kept telling him it never worked out that way. Unlike him, I had to pay for my own education, and I would have been saddled down with student loan debt and never be able to travel like I had, unencumbered. In a weird turn of events, he’d ended up paying for some of my education. He paid off all my student loans after we were married. He did it without my knowledge. I still felt guilty about it, but he’d said he wanted to.
    I skipped through the next pages as he droned on about preparing for finals and his graduation speech, Mr. Class President and Salutatorian. I think he was still ticked off that Tim Weismann beat him out for Valedictorian by a tenth of a percentage point. I skipped to the night, or should I say day, after our prom. It was the first entry without any bullet points or numbered lists.
    I kissed Jaime. When did she get to be so beautiful? I wanted to rip Trevor’s hands off for touching her all night on the dance floor, and in the limo. Gran told me I should have taken her in the first place. Maybe she’s right, but if we date, we can never go back, and I don’t want to lose her as a friend. Granddad says girls like Jaime are the kind you take home to meet your parents. The kind you make commitments to. And if I wasn’t ready to be committed to her, that I should wait. Jaime deserved the best any man could offer, he said. Maybe when we’re older. I don’t know if I can wait.
    He obviously found a way; he’d never lacked for female companionship.
    I thought back to that summer as we tried to stretch out the days and make it last. I don’t think either one of us wanted to talk about our upcoming separation. We had been almost inseparable for six years, despite the fact we were teased about it in junior high and in high school we ran in different crowds—I hung out with the artists and drama kids, and he was the ultimate cool kid. But every day we ate lunch together and tried our best to get into some of the same classes. He went to the school plays with me, and I went to the sporting events with him. He never missed one of my recitals, and I cheered him on at soccer and basketball games. What happened to those days?
    I just knew my heart was going to break when he and my parents took me to the airport. We held hands in the back of the car all the way to Nashville International. I was going to miss my parents, but I would ache for Chris. I held onto him the longest when they dropped me off at the curb. “Don’t go,” he whispered in my ear. I was tempted not to, but I wanted to get out of our small town and see the world. I had never even been on a plane until that day. I wanted adventure, and to experience life outside of Fayetteville or even Tennessee for that matter. And maybe outside of Chris. I hadn’t realized back then that perhaps he was feeling the same way I had—that he could possibly be my forever. I thought I was the cliché of a best friend falling in love, and he had sure been cozy with Audrey that summer.
    I looked through his journal to see if he had any thoughts on my departure. I found this little snippet.
    Jaime left today. I almost kissed her at the airport. Maybe I should have. I decided I should break up with Audrey before school starts next week. I’m surprised she hasn’t broken up with me. All summer she accused me of liking Jaime more than her. I never denied it. I like Jaime more than anyone. I especially like how she looked all summer in her lifeguard uniform. I don’t know why it took me so long to notice how hot her body is. I don’t even think she knows. Another reason I like her so much.
    Nothing deep, but I didn’t know what I expected, he was eighteen. It did explain why he hung out at the pool every day that summer. I liked the way he looked