The Promise of Tomorrow Read Online Free PDF

booth.”
    Nick and I stood there as she walked away, and I studied his face. His face looked worn out and tired, his body looked thinner, and his hair was too long. My heart broke as I stared at him and he walked towards me.
    “Can we talk, Lucy?” His voice was a whisper. “I want to explain.”
    “You can go to hell, you fucking cheating asshole. My parents were right about you all along. How could you do this to me? How could you do this to us, Nick? I loved you. You were my best friend, my first and only lover, and you betrayed me.” I screamed. “I never want to see you again, never again. You can rot and burn in hell, in your trailer park with your trailer park trash friends. I hate you. I hate you.” Tears were streaming down my face, and he stared at me in shock as I ran out of the restaurant. I stumbled blindly to my car and cried and cried and cried. I turned my phone off to ignore Nick’s calls, and I drove to a Walmart parking lot and pushed my car seat back and just lay there listening to the sounds of silence. That was the end of our relationship. That was the last day I ever believed in true love. It was the day that tomorrow promised me nothing, but heartache.

 
    Chapter 6
    Present Day
     
    “Mocha Frappuccino?” Nick smiled at me as he ordered the drinks, and I nodded, surprised that he had remembered my favorite drink.
    “Yes, thanks.” I smiled weakly. What was he doing here? I stared at his face and all I could remember was that last fight. That slut’s arms around him. Her laughing as she told me they’d just fucked. Pain resonated in my soul as I remembered the exact moment my heart had cracked.
    “You don’t think I’d forget that? Not after how many times we went to Starbucks when you were studying for the SAT and finals.” He laughed at my expression and I cracked a smile. Nick was trying so hard to act as if everything was normal between us. I knew that I needed to just let it go and pretend I was okay as well.
    “I guess not.” I tried not to look at him too closely, but it was hard; he was even more handsome than I remembered, and his hair hung around his face in that sexy way that had always irritated and delighted me in high school.
    “So, how are you?” He took in my appearance and frowned, and I blushed as I realized what he must be seeing. My ill-fitting clothes that weren’t appropriate for the weather. My messy hair and unmade up face. I looked like a mess and I was embarrassed.
    “Good, you?” I wanted to ask him why he was wearing a suit and what he was up to in life. He looked so well to do, nothing like the boy I was used to seeing.
    “Great.” He led me to a table, and we sat down. “I’ve been writing for the New York Times .”
    “Wow,” I looked at him in admiration. “That’s awesome.”
    “Yeah,” he took a sip of his coffee. “I’m pretty stoked. I just got back from a meeting with my agent, and she sold my first novel to a publisher, and I got a great advance.”
    “Oh, yeah?” I tried to smile at his good fortune, but inside I was praying he wouldn’t ask me what I was up to.
    “And let’s just say I got a six figure advance.”
    “Wow.” My eyes widened, and I felt a pang of jealousy as I thought about my six-figure debt.
    “But sorry to keep talking about myself. How goes economics?” He smiled at me, obviously interested in what I had to say. I was embarrassed to admit how the tides had changed between us. I was the loser in this situation now. I was the one with no money. I was the one that wasn’t good enough.
    “Good.” I looked down at my drink. I didn’t want to tell him that I was unemployed and living in a co-op with eight other people, that I lived on unemployment, and I barely had anything to eat.
    “Lucy,” his voice was gentle, and I looked up into his eyes. They were staring at me with a familiar emotion, and I felt a rush of warmth fill me. I smiled at him, genuinely this time. I was truly happy to see him