Pinkie Promises (A Promises Novella #1) Read Online Free

stars with me.” He took my hand and pulled me down so we were lying on the wooden patio. “Do you know how many stars are in the sky?”
    “A lot,” I replied.
    “One hundred billion.”
    “Wow. That’s a lot of stars,” I said.
    Then he pointed to one of the stars. “We’ll call that the Simone star. And then the one right next to it …we’ll call that the Jace star. So we are always together.”
    “Do you pinkie promise?” I asked.
    He hooked his pinkie with mine.
    We stared at our stars for a while and he pointed out the other ones he knew the big dipper and the little dipper, among other ones.
    “Maybe you should get back home before your mom notices,” I told Jace.
    “In a minute.”
    I nodded, and went back to looking at the stars. After a minute, Jace stood up and pulled me up with him.
    “Goodnight, Simone.”
    “Goodnight, Jace.”

CHAPTER EIGHT
     
     
     
    PRESENT: SIMONE
    “Did you know you’re up for best local catering?” Leah, my assistant, asks.
    “I got the call yesterday. But I don’t want to get my hopes up,” I tell her. “We’ll know by noon whether or not I get it or not. There’s a lot of competition out there.”
    It’s been three long years, busting my tail to make a name for myself. If I got such a prestigious award, it could really put me on the map. I could expand and be more behind the scenes.
    “Still, it’s exciting,” Leah says.
    Four long, excruciating hours later, my phone rings inside my messy smock.
    “Hello?” I say into the receiver.
    “Hi. Is this Simone Rayburn?”
    “This is she.”
    “Hi I’m chairman Grady Biggs, with the restaurant association, and we’d like to offer Taste an award for best catering in the area. Would you be able to attend the awards ceremony and dinner this Saturday?”
    “I would. Thank you so much.”
    “We’ll email you the details. See you soon.”
    “Thank you, Mr. Chairman.”
    When I hang up the phone, Leah notices the smile on my face. “We won, didn’t we?” she asks.
    “We did. I get to accept the award this Saturday. They are going to email me the details, and I’ll forward it to you and Jared so you both can attend. I wouldn’t be here without the two of you,” I say, gratefully.
    Leah’s smile widens. I watch as she makes her way over to Jared to relay the message. They seem genuinely happy about the news. I have half the notion to jump up and down myself. Three years of hard work finally paid off.
    Still clutching my phone, my first call is to Jace.
    “Hello?” he says.
    “Guess what? I got an award for Taste for best catering in London Falls. I get to accept it this Saturday. There’s an award ceremony and dinner.”
    “Simone, that’s amazing. I’m so proud of you.”
    “You are coming with me on Saturday,” I tell him as a matter of fact.
    “As long as I don’t have to wear a freaking suit.”
    “I’ll get back to you on that. They are sending the email out with all the details.”
    “You know I’d never miss it.”
    “Thanks, Jace. I’ll let you get back to work.”
    “Hey. How about I treat you to dinner tonight, to celebrate? Around seven?”
    “That sounds great. I’ll see you later.”
    “See ya.”
    Hanging up the phone, I call my mom and tell her the news. She’s happy for me. The phone call is quick so I can get back to work.
    The rest of the day goes by as we have a little more pep in our step. Finishing for the day, I head home with enough time to shower. The catering business is not a glamourous job. Most jobs require cooking, and that makes me a mess on most days. When you cook all day as your job, the last thing you want to do is go home and cook a meal for yourself. So I’m thankful Jace offered to take me out.
    Just as I step out of the shower to dry off, I hear the front door open. “I’m here!” Jace yells through my apartment.
    “I’ll be out in sec!” I yell back. Pulling my wet hair back, I secure it in a low bun. After lining my eyes with eye