Free The Promise of Tomorrow by J. S. Cooper

 
    Chapter 1
    Present Day
     
    I ran my credit card through the machine and kept my fingers crossed. Go through, go through , I willed the card as I waited to see if the computers would accept or deny my payment. I knew I had some money left on the card, but I wasn’t sure how much. Please have $25.36 left , I prayed as I waited to see what was going to happen.
    “Sign here please, Ms. Oliver.” The lady handed me the receipt, and I released my breath.
    “Sure.” I smiled widely. Yes! Another day I didn’t have to worry.
    “Do you want a plastic bag?” The lady gave me a small smile and I wondered if she knew how poor I was. Was she feeling pity for me? Did she know that I had lost my job and I didn’t have a boyfriend? Did she know I hadn’t had sex in over a year? Lucy, get it together . I told myself off. How would she know that?
    “No, no. I’ll put them in my purse. Thanks.” I smiled gratefully and hurried out of the store with my items, calculating numbers in my head. If I ate spaghetti for the rest of the week, I should be okay. I sighed as the cold wind whipped my hair against my face and I cuddled my thin coat around me. There wasn’t much I could do about my jacket situation right now, not while I was still unemployed. I tried to ignore my shivers as I walked down the street, keeping my face down, not wanting to see any happy couples walking down the street next to me; reminding me that I was alone, once again at Christmas. I was waiting at the traffic light for the lights to change when I felt someone touch my arm.
    “Argh.” I screamed involuntarily and turned around quickly; ready to fight to the death for my last twenty-dollar note. My eyes widened when I saw the figure behind me, standing there with a wary smile. My heart flipped as I looked into his familiar green eyes, and I attempted a smile.
    “Snitch.” He grinned at me, and I couldn’t help but laugh at the use of my old nickname.
    “Nick.” I studied his face, trying so hard not to look into his eyes. He looked the same as he did all those years ago. He had the same light sprinkle of freckles running across his cheek, right above his nose. His short dark brown hair was still a little long for his face, and I resisted the urge to want to run my fingers through it and push it back like I used to.
    “I thought that was you, Snitch.” He grinned at me, his eyes lighting up as he stared at me in that old familiar way.
    “Nick.” I sighed and shook my head as he used the nickname I hated.
    “Lucy.” He grabbed my hand, and I looked up at him in surprise. I felt a warm heat run through me at his touch, and I recoiled slightly as I yanked my hand back. I was surprised that I still felt the old electricity between us. I didn’t want to feel that electricity. Not now. Not ever again.
    “The light changed.” He nodded towards the pedestrian light, and we walked across the road, with our hands by our sides. “So…long time no see?”
    “Yeah.” I smiled, trying to cloud the confusion in my brain. “And in New York of all places.”
    “We always said we wanted to move here. I guess we both did.” His voice was matter-of-fact, and I tried not to remember those hopeful conversations, that had been so full of excitement for the future. I could still remember the bright lights in our eyes as we thought about the future. We’d been so enthusiastic about all of our plans.
    “Yeah.” My voice trailed off, and I looked over at him again. He was dressed nicely, in a smart, dark suit. Why hadn’t I noticed the suit until now? I’d never seen him so dressed up, not once in the whole time that I’d known him. “So why did you move here?” I made small talk as we walked, hoping that he would tell me he had to go or something so that I could rush home and forget that I had seen him. I didn’t want to think about Nick ever again.
    “Job. You?”
    “Same.” I lied, not wanting to get into everything. I felt awkward enough just being