Book Read Free

The Vow

Page 29

by Jessica Martinez


  After Mo gets his boarding pass and checks his bags, we make our way toward security. The line isn’t long, but we have to say good-bye before he can get in it.

  “Can I watch you go through?” I ask. My voice is solid. I’m not going to cry.

  “Yeah. What do you think my chances are of getting felt up by that big dude with the wand?”

  “I don’t know. You’re kind of cute. Maybe if you show a little leg.”

  He laughs, but it’s nervous and distracted, barely a laugh at all. He’s not thinking about security.

  We’re not walking anymore. We’re standing still, and my heart is in my throat. I want to freeze time, and I want this over. Either. Just not this.

  “So,” he says.

  “So.”

  He lifts his arms, and I walk in to him, wrapping my arms around his body, squeezing so hard I don’t know how I’m not killing him. I might be killing myself. All the skin and muscle and bone of him are too solid, and I can’t absorb him into my body. My arms ache, and when I can’t squeeze any longer, I relax and just let him hold me. I’m soaking in a lifetime of Mo in just one hug, and I can feel a part of myself soaking into him too. It’s more than his smell and the texture of his skin. I’m collecting his thoughts—no, our thoughts. I have to take them all, our glances and our words and our memories too, because it’s almost too late.

  It is too late.

  He lets go and turns around without saying good-bye. I feel something crazy, a scream working its way up me, but not a scream because I don’t open my mouth. My heart is squeezing itself to death.

  He turns around and gives me his smile of beautiful white teeth. “I love you,” he calls.

  “I love you, too,” I call back.

  That’s our end. I can’t watch him now, not without crying. I can’t stand here and see him show his passport and take off his shoes and shuffle through the line with all the other passengers like I thought I could. Like someone anonymous. I turn around and walk step after step after step toward the airport exit. Away from Mo. Into the after.

  Acknowledgments

  Thank you to all the attorneys in my life (and there are many) who helped me wade through the immigration issues for this book. I now understand even less why you all choose to do what you do. But whatever. To each his own. I owe a special thanks to Michael Martinez for going above and beyond his brother-in-law duties by reading the entire manuscript. Mike, that ruled of you. Your knowledge and suggestions were invaluable. Next time I get your name for Christmas I’m going to buy you something awesome, or maybe just less lame than last time.

  And to the attorney in my life whose expertise would have been most helpful, but who refused to answer any questions or discuss any issues, thanks for eventually being okay with me writing this book. I owe you.

  Thanks also to the editorial team at Simon Pulse, whose patience and creativity was astounding: Anica Rissi, Liesa Abrams, Michael Strother, and everyone else who pored over the manuscript and brainstormed ideas to make things work. I recall at one point during my Dream Act crisis, Anica promised to get on the phone with President Obama if we couldn’t make all the pieces fit. I don’t doubt she would have.

  And of course, thanks to Mandy Hubbard, agent extraordinaire, queen of pep talks and sanity checks and smoothing things over. Every writer should be so lucky.

  The final and biggest thank-you goes to my children. You are a constant reminder of what’s most important.

  We hope you enjoyed reading this Simon Pulse eBook.

  * * *

  Sign up for our newsletter and receive special offers, access to bonus content, and info on the latest new releases and other great eBooks from Simon Pulse and Simon & Schuster.

  CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP

  or visit us online to sign up at

  eBookNews.SimonandSchuster.com

  Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

  Martinez, Jessica.

  The vow / by Jessica Martinez. — 1st Simon Pulse hardcover ed.

  p. cm.

  Summary: Mo is not only eighteen-year-old Annie’s best friend, he is the one who

  helps her cope with the loss of her older sister, so when he learns he must leave Kentucky and return to Jordan with his family, Annie suggests a shocking alternative.

  ISBN 978-1-4424-5864-2

  [1. Best friends—Fiction. 2. Friendship—Fiction. 3. Love—Fiction. 4. Aliens—Fiction.

  5. Arabs—Kentucky—Fiction. 6. Race relations—Fiction.

  7. Family problems—Fiction. 8. Kentucky—Fiction.] I. Title.

  PZ7.M36715Vow 2013

  [Fic]—dc23

  2012039166

  ISBN 978-1-4424-5866-6 (eBook)

  This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events,

  real people, or real places are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places,

  and events are products of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance

  to actual events or places or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  SIMON PULSE

  An imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing Division

  1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020

  Manufactured in the United States of America

  2 4 6 8 10 9 7 5 3 1

  Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

  Martinez, Jessica.

  p. cm.

  Summary: Mo is not only eighteen-year-old Annie’s best friend, he is the one who

  helps her cope with the loss of her older sister, so when he learns he must leave Kentucky and return to Jordan with his family, Annie suggests a shocking alternative.

  ISBN 978-1-4424-5864-2

  [1. Best friends—Fiction. 2. Friendship—Fiction. 3. Love—Fiction. 4. Aliens—Fiction.

  5. Arabs—Kentucky—Fiction. 6. Race relations—Fiction.

  7. Family problems—Fiction. 8. Kentucky—Fiction.] I. Title.

  PZ7.M36715Vow 2013

  [Fic]—dc23

  2012039166

  ISBN 978-1-4424-5866-6 (eBook)

  Text copyright © 2013 by Jessica Martinez

  Jacket photograph copyright © 2013 by Steve Gardner/PixelWorks Studios

  Jacket design by Russell Gordon

  All rights reserved, including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form.

  SIMON PULSE and colophon are registered trademarks of Simon & Schuster, Inc.

  For information about special discounts for bulk purchases, please contact

  Simon & Schuster Special Sales at 1-866-506-1949 or business@simonandschuster.com.

  The Simon & Schuster Speakers Bureau can bring authors to your live event.

  For more information or to book an event contact the Simon & Schuster Speakers Bureau

  at 1-866-248-3049 or visit our website at www.simonspeakers.com.

  Interior design by Mike Rosamilia

  The text of this book was set in Janson Text LT Std.

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

 

 

 
book with friends

share


‹ Prev