Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 94639 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 473(@200wpm)___ 379(@250wpm)___ 315(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94639 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 473(@200wpm)___ 379(@250wpm)___ 315(@300wpm)
“Salem? Like in Massachusetts? That’s not bad.” It’s only about a forty-minute drive.
“No.” He shakes his head. “Salem, Virginia.”
I sit up and grab my phone from the nightstand. I pull up my maps app and enter in our city and then Salem, Virginia. The distance has my heart plummeting into my stomach. “Eleven hours.”
Landon snatches the phone from me and pulls me into his arms. “You only have one year left, and then who knows what’ll happen. Maybe I’ll get pulled up to the Majors, or maybe you’ll get a scholarship and join me in Salem.”
I love that he’s trying to make this work, but we both know it’s not going to. We’re too young. I’m still in high school. We would be fools to try to do the long distance thing. It will only end in heartbreak, and we promised we wouldn’t let that happen.
“We have to break up,” I say out loud.
Landon shakes his head. “No, let’s just give it some time. See what happens. Please.” He looks at me with his hazel eyes pleading, and I don’t have it in me to say no.
“Okay, but if we find it’s not working, we break up so we can remain friends.” I lay my head on his chest and wrap my arms around his torso. “I need you in my life, Landon. Even if it means we’re only friends.”
“I’m going to call you every night and text you every chance I get,” Landon promises as he hugs me tightly. It’s moving day. Landon has signed his contract and is leaving for Salem in a few minutes. Since the team has thirty days to sign the contract, I thought we would have some time together. Unfortunately, they called him in to sign five days later, only giving us one week together.
“I know,” I say, trying and failing not to let the tears fall from my lids.
“Baby, please don’t cry,” Landon pleads, gently wiping the tears away with his thumbs. “Everything will be okay.”
I take a deep breath, not wanting to make him feel bad for following his dreams, even if my heart is breaking into pieces. “I know. You’re right,” I say through a fake smile. “Go knock ’em dead… or hit ’em hard… whatever it is you do in baseball.”
Landon laughs sadly. “I love you, Harper. This isn’t goodbye. This is just a ‘see you soon.’”
“I know. I love you too.”
Eight
Harper
Four Months Later
I’m sitting in class, with my phone in my lap, listening to the teacher go over what we can expect on our quiz on Friday. Well, I’m half-listening. The other half of my attention is focused on my phone, wishing I were anywhere but here. Actually, not anywhere—specifically Salem, Virginia, with Landon.
After we said our ‘see you soons’ at the airport, I spent the next couple weeks moping around, missing him like crazy. Sure, we texted and video chatted as much as we could, but it wasn’t the same. I wanted to be back in his bed, watching movies while we cuddled. I missed my boyfriend, but more importantly, I missed my best friend.
Finally, Melissa and Angela had enough and dragged me out of bed. We spent the rest of summer hanging out at the mall, with friends at the lake, and making day trips to the beach. I might not be able to stand Melissa on a regular basis, but this summer she was a godsend. She kept me busy and my mind off how much I was already missing Landon.
Once school started back up, it got a little easier since I became busier with my classes. I even got a part-time job working at our local coffee shop after school and on the weekends. It helps keep me occupied while I wait for Landon to text or call, and since Mom is still struggling, it means I can pay for my own cell phone, car insurance, and gas.
Landon’s been training hard for months now, and with his training only increasing, his downtime has become more and more limited—our everyday calls and texts having turned into a few times a week at most.
I miss him so much, and I hate that we’re drifting apart, but I won’t tell him that. He’s not doing anything wrong, and he can’t do anything to change our situation. Complaining will only make him feel bad.
The bell rings, and when I glance down, I realize I haven’t taken a single note all class period. I’m going to have to ask someone if I can borrow their notes. I can’t afford to mess up this semester. I’ve already started to apply to a few different colleges. Unfortunately, since I’m not in the running for any scholarships, I’m going to have to apply for financial aid, which means while I’m still applying to NYU, I’m also applying to local colleges as well.