Read Online Christopher and Jaime (Pianos and Promises #1) by Jennifer Peel - Free Book Online
Authors: Jennifer Peel
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part of Chris. I leaned over the edge of the bed to grab the journal. I propped myself up on my hand and let the journal choose its page. It fell open to a place in time that still haunted my memories. It was almost seven years ago, the night before Chris married Bianca.
My last night as a single man. Jaimes came to my bachelor party and wiped us clean at poker. She looked good with my ball cap on backwards, pretending to smoke a cigar. She had been distant since we announced our engagement, so I’m glad she showed up. Except watching her turned my feet ice cold. It doesn’t help that Gran is unhappy about my decision. Bianca’s good for me. She pushes me. I wish she could see that. And Jaimes is dating that professor. The guy can bore you to death talking about music theory.
Am I making a mistake like Gran says? Jaime and I are night and day, but what is one without the other? I asked Jaimes tonight when I walked her out to her car if she could give me one good reason not to marry Bianca. She didn’t answer for the longest time. Instead she pulled me to her and rested her head on my shoulder. I held her there in the parking lot. I could feel her shake. In the end, she whispered, “I can’t.” She kissed my cheek and took off. I almost went after her, but I thought about Bianca. We make sense.
I closed the journal and rolled on my back. I felt a pit in my stomach. I feared I made a critical error that night. Why hadn’t I told him I loved him? Maybe he would have changed his mind. I wanted to, and I almost did, but he and Bianca had already bought a place together and I was with Julian, who was a great guy even if Chris thought he was boring.
I had sat with his grandmother at the wedding the next day, feeling like I would puke. She leaned over before it began and whispered in my ear, “I’ll give you ten thousand dollars if you stand up to object.” She wasn’t kidding. “You should have told him you loved him. You missed your chance, darling.” Unfortunately, Julian was sitting on my other side and he heard her. It didn’t help that he stared at me during the whole ceremony while tears streamed down my face. We broke up that night. Not a tear was shed for that event.
I thought nothing would ever be more painful than to watch Chris marry another woman. I was wrong.
Chapter Five
Holding our baby in my arms did me a world of good. I kissed her head and cheeks dozens of times until she giggled.
“Stop, Mommy.”
“Never.” I kissed her some more.
Her laugh was infectious. I needed that more than anything today.
“Did you have fun playing with Emeline?”
“Uh-huh, but I want to see Daddy.”
I squeezed her tight as she sat on my lap. “I know, baby, but you aren’t old enough and Daddy is sleeping for a few days.” It was the best way I could describe it to her. “He got a big bump on his head and they’re trying to make it all better.”
Her bottom lip quivered and her blue eyes filled up with tears.
“It’s going to be all right.” It had to be. “Grandma is coming to take you to the zoo while I go stay with Daddy. Do you want to make him a card?”
She nodded with vigor. “And can I give him Benny?”
“I’m sure he would love that.” Benny was her stuffed cow she’d had since she was two. She used to carry it around with her everywhere, but now was slowly outgrowing him. She still slept with him though, so this was a sacrifice on her part.
I found the box with art supplies in it, and set bug up at the table while I finished getting ready. I was braiding my hair when Chris’ executive assistant, Charles Beckett, called. He wasn’t only an assistant, he was Chris’ friend, Allie’s godfather, and my ex-boyfriend. To us, he was Beck, the Beck he had mentioned in his journal. We had weaved a tangled web.
I put him on speaker and his debonair voice echoed in my bathroom. I pictured him perfectly in my mind: sleek suit; subdued tie; and dark, slicked-back hair. He was a good
My last night as a single man. Jaimes came to my bachelor party and wiped us clean at poker. She looked good with my ball cap on backwards, pretending to smoke a cigar. She had been distant since we announced our engagement, so I’m glad she showed up. Except watching her turned my feet ice cold. It doesn’t help that Gran is unhappy about my decision. Bianca’s good for me. She pushes me. I wish she could see that. And Jaimes is dating that professor. The guy can bore you to death talking about music theory.
Am I making a mistake like Gran says? Jaime and I are night and day, but what is one without the other? I asked Jaimes tonight when I walked her out to her car if she could give me one good reason not to marry Bianca. She didn’t answer for the longest time. Instead she pulled me to her and rested her head on my shoulder. I held her there in the parking lot. I could feel her shake. In the end, she whispered, “I can’t.” She kissed my cheek and took off. I almost went after her, but I thought about Bianca. We make sense.
I closed the journal and rolled on my back. I felt a pit in my stomach. I feared I made a critical error that night. Why hadn’t I told him I loved him? Maybe he would have changed his mind. I wanted to, and I almost did, but he and Bianca had already bought a place together and I was with Julian, who was a great guy even if Chris thought he was boring.
I had sat with his grandmother at the wedding the next day, feeling like I would puke. She leaned over before it began and whispered in my ear, “I’ll give you ten thousand dollars if you stand up to object.” She wasn’t kidding. “You should have told him you loved him. You missed your chance, darling.” Unfortunately, Julian was sitting on my other side and he heard her. It didn’t help that he stared at me during the whole ceremony while tears streamed down my face. We broke up that night. Not a tear was shed for that event.
I thought nothing would ever be more painful than to watch Chris marry another woman. I was wrong.
Chapter Five
Holding our baby in my arms did me a world of good. I kissed her head and cheeks dozens of times until she giggled.
“Stop, Mommy.”
“Never.” I kissed her some more.
Her laugh was infectious. I needed that more than anything today.
“Did you have fun playing with Emeline?”
“Uh-huh, but I want to see Daddy.”
I squeezed her tight as she sat on my lap. “I know, baby, but you aren’t old enough and Daddy is sleeping for a few days.” It was the best way I could describe it to her. “He got a big bump on his head and they’re trying to make it all better.”
Her bottom lip quivered and her blue eyes filled up with tears.
“It’s going to be all right.” It had to be. “Grandma is coming to take you to the zoo while I go stay with Daddy. Do you want to make him a card?”
She nodded with vigor. “And can I give him Benny?”
“I’m sure he would love that.” Benny was her stuffed cow she’d had since she was two. She used to carry it around with her everywhere, but now was slowly outgrowing him. She still slept with him though, so this was a sacrifice on her part.
I found the box with art supplies in it, and set bug up at the table while I finished getting ready. I was braiding my hair when Chris’ executive assistant, Charles Beckett, called. He wasn’t only an assistant, he was Chris’ friend, Allie’s godfather, and my ex-boyfriend. To us, he was Beck, the Beck he had mentioned in his journal. We had weaved a tangled web.
I put him on speaker and his debonair voice echoed in my bathroom. I pictured him perfectly in my mind: sleek suit; subdued tie; and dark, slicked-back hair. He was a good
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