BREAKTHROUGH (Love's Not Easy Series Book 2) Read online

  BREAKTHROUGH

  LOVE’S NOT EASY SERIES BOOK TWO

  BY

  NICOLE RICKMAN

  ISBN-13: 978-1507894071

  ISBN-10: 1507894074

  This is a work of fiction. All characters, places, and incidents are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons either living or dead is completely coincidental. This book also contains Bible Verses from the King James Version of the Holy Bible.

  PUBLISHED BY NICOLE RICKMAN COPYRIGHT 2014 NICOLE RICKMAN

  Cover design by Fury Cover

  Design Images from Deposit photo contributors Giulio Fornasar & duckeesue

  Dedication

  I would like to dedicate this book to God, my family and friends. I am so thankful he blessed me with the gift of writing stories. I want to thank my family and friends for their support and prayers. Without prayer none of this would have been possible.

  Table of Contents

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Chapter Twenty Two

  Chapter One

  Aimee sat on her bed looking out her window. She had been back in the States four weeks now; and, the entire experience has been horrible for her. It began with her dad having her intern with his campaign team; instead of, working at his office, like they had planned. To make matters worse, all she did was stuff envelopes. She learned absolutely nothing about business or marketing.

  Deandre decided that Aimee should be in more episodes of the Clint and Deandre Show. The producers were subtitling the show as The Reality of Becoming a Politician. Camera crews were everywhere Aimee turned. They were trying to get more footage of her for season three. Hiding became nearly impossible; so, Aimee started doing the most boring things she could find, in an attempt to be edited out of the show.

  Her job at Clint Pittman Campaign Headquarters’ was officially over; and, she could not be any happier, with the exception that being home more would mean more cameras. She would just have to get creative and find ways to avoid them.

  No one else was planning on being home today, and the crew was following her dad. So, she planned to go up to the attic and search for more of her mom’s stuff.

  First, she noticed her cell was blinking to alert her of text messages. Piper, her best friend she meet when they shared a room together in a European boarding school, had text her for the first time this summer.

  Hi, Aimee. How has your Summer Holiday been so far? Mine is going so great. I am so excited because my parents got saved last night. James and I are spending so much time together. I love him more every day. We received the stuff you sent for Vacation Bible School and the kids are so excited. I wish you could be here to help us with it. Is LJ calling or texting you? I will call you soon. Love you Bestie.

  Aimee hit reply: Hey, so glad you are having a great summer. You and James are so great together. I am so glad God chose him for you. I just finished my horrible three week internship with dad. It turned out to be with his campaign, not his office. Today starts my summer vacation. LJ is calling all the time. I will tell you more when we talk. Love you Bestie.

  The other text was from a guy she went out with a few times named LJ. Hey, Aimee. I am so sorry I did not call you last night. I tried to call earlier this morning, but it went straight to your voice mail. I will try to call you later. I can’t wait until I hear your voice.

  Aimee checked the time, it was ten am. So, it was four pm. in Neahovia. She decided she would call him. The phone rang four times before he picked it up.

  “Hey, I thought I would change things up a bit and call you.”

  “Hey babe. I am glad you decided to call me. I wanted to call you back, but I was not for sure if you had to work today.”

  “No. My internship is over.”

  “I bet you are happy?”

  “Yes, definitely. How was your day?”

  “It just got better when you called. I got my dorm assignment today, and I will be staying in Chester Hall.”

  “Wow. That is great. I hear it is the ultimate Senior Hall.”

  “Yes, it is great.”

  “I can’t wait until I come back to Neahovia. I miss you guys so much.”

  “That is why I was trying to call. I have an opportunity to get tickets for the Theater in August. Do you know what day you are returning, so I can get our tickets for that week? We can celebrate your return to Neahovia.”

  “I am not sure of the exact date just yet. Let me check with my dad and I will let you know in a few days.”

  A tap on the door took Aimee’s attention for a second. “LJ, hang on someone is at my bedroom door.” She yelled for them to come in.

  “Aimee, guess what? Your father just called, we are going to a Gala at the country club tonight.” Her stepmom Deandre rushed through the door, followed by Aimee’s cousins, Mindy and Tara.

  “Deandre, I was thinking of spending the evening alone at home.”

  “Nonsense.” Tara plopped down on Aimee’s bed.

  “Yeah. Your dad gave us his credit card. New cocktail dresses all around.” Mindy grinned.

  “Fine, whatever. Excuse me, I am on the phone.”

  She turned her back to everyone. “Sorry, LJ, I am back.”

  “You still don’t like to be told what to do?” He was chuckling.

  She was smiling ear to ear. “Not at all. So, we were discussing our date.”

  “Did I hear you right, did you just refer to a night at the theater with me as a date?”

  “Yes, you did. What days are the tickets available?”

  “The dates available are August eleventh through the fourteenth.”

  “I think I can arrange to be back to Neahovia by then. I need to go, but I promise to call you as soon as I know the exact day.”

  “Ok. Have fun with your cousins today and tonight. Don’t be kissing every guy you dance with.”

  “Oh, you know me, dear, I am not one to kiss and tell.”

  He was laughing so hard he snorted. “Bye, love.”

  Tara and Mindy sat up on the bed. “Who is LJ?”

  Aimee went to her closet to get an outfit. “One of my friends from Neahovia.”

  “A friend you have a date with when you go back to Neahovia? You are talking about kissing him and he called you love. Spill the beans now, Aimee.” Tara winked at her.

  “Ok, because of my dad tricking me with the internship, we have not had a chance to catch up. LJ is a third year business student. He is a friend of one of my roommates. I met him when my roommate, Aiden, and I had to go to a dinner for first year business management students. LJ went on the ski trip I told you about, when I was home for Christmas Break. Anyway, we hung out a lot. On Valentine’s Day, we went out on a date. We kissed three times. He said that he would call the next day, but didn’t call.”

  Aimee paused. “Two and half months later, I ran into him at a non- alcoholic club my roommates and I went to. He came over and we talked. He apologized for not calling and wanted a second chance. I put him back into friend zone to see how serious he is.”

  Mindy was biting her
bottom lip. “I am trying not to laugh; because, I know how serious you are about kissing guys being a big deal. Plus, it was big of you to give him a second chance.”

  Tara hit Mindy. “I think it is sweet. He must be passing your test, because you have a date with him.”

  Aimee was ready to shower, just before entering the bathroom, she turned to look at her cousins. “We have a date. But, it will be awhile before his lips caress against mine again.”

  Tara drove her car to Cassie’s Dress Shop. Aimee was looking through the summer cocktail dresses when her phone rang. She had a hard time finding it in her; purse; then, some lady shoved her in the side, trying to get to a dress she was looking at.

  “Hello.” Aimee moved away from the dresses.

  “Hey, Aimee. How are you? I miss spending time with one of my besties.”

  “Lexi, hi. I am doing great. I am missing you guys so much. How are you?”

  “Great. Listen, when you are coming back to Neahovia?”

  “You are the second person to ask me that today.”

  “Well, my friend, you are being missed horribly.”

  Aimee giggled. “Whatever. What’s up?”

  “A trip to the spa with a small group from Wise Chapel.”

  “That sounds great.”

  “I will let you know as soon as I know the day I leave. Where are you?”

  “The palace.”

  “Are you having fun there?”

  Aiden grabbed the phone from Lexi. “Hey, Aimee. How is my favorite American?”

  “Hey, Aiden. I am great and, because I am so happy to hear your voice, I am letting that slide.”

  “You know I am just kidding. Is today your first day off the job?”

  “Yes, and you will never guess what I am doing.”

  “Shopping.” He laughed very loud.

  “Oh, you are so psychic.”

  “No, I just know you, Aimee. Lexi is making me give her phone back. I will call you later tonight.”

  “Ok, I have a Gala to go to; so, I will be home around midnight here or five in the morning your time.”

  “Talk to you then.”

  Lexi grabbed her phone. “Aimee, call me as soon as you make your reservations. I will take care of the details for the spa.”

  “Sounds great. I hate to hang up, but I am shopping for a Gala tonight.”

  The rest of the day, Aimee had to answer questions about her first year of college. Tara and Mindy were so relentless with the questions. Aimee left out most of the details about Aiden. She did not tell them he was Princes Aiden, or that she nearly kissed him twice.

  Today was the first day she had talked to Aiden since she returned home for the summer vacation. They had been texting each other, but hearing his voice immediately reminded her of how much she missed Aiden, and the times they almost kissed.

  ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

  The Gala started at seven pm. Aimee arrived with her dad and stepmom a little after seven. Deandre loved to be fashionably late. When she stepped out of the car, she immediately spotted Morgan, her high school prom date, standing by the entrance.

  He came straight over to her and extended his arm for her to take. “I was so excited to hear that I have the pleasure of escorting you tonight.”

  “Excuse me, I never agreed to that.”

  Clint took her arm. “Aimee, dear, can you please humor me tonight?”

  “You owe me big time, dad.”

  Aimee returned to Morgan and followed him to the dance floor. She danced a few slow songs with him before it was time for the dinner part of the Gala.

  Aimee and Morgan sat at the table with her father, stepmother, and his campaign team. She sat quietly as she ate her dinner. When she noticed Mrs. Pennington (the Richmond society gossip queen) coming to the table to chit chat, Aimee tried to leave the table, but Deandre stopped her. “She is very important to your father’s campaign, Aimee.”

  Mrs. Pennington showed up, talking in her annoying, fake, nasal high society voice. “Deandre, dear. You look so lovely, and much too young to be the mother of this lovely girl. Aimee, you look darling.”

  Deandre smiled and nodded. “Thank you, Mrs. Pennington. You look very lovely as well.”

  Aimee just smiled and gritted her teeth as she spoke. “Thank you, Mrs. Pennington. Deandre is my stepmother. My mother passed away when I was ten.”

  “Oh yes, dear, forgive me, I forgot. You are in college, correct?”

  “Yes, mam.”

  “If I am correct, you are studying at the University of Richmond?”

  Deandre answered before Aimee had a chance. “Actually, Mrs. Pennington, Aimee has been studying abroad. She is expanding her horizon.”

  “Oh, that is wonderful, dear.”

  “Thank you, mam, if you excuse me, I see my friends waiting on Morgan and me.”

  When Aimee and Morgan reach Mindy and Tara, they were conversing with a small group of people, whom she did not know.

  Tara had her arm interlaced with a tall skinny guy. “Aimee, this is Ashton Meeks.”

  “Hi, Ashton, I am Aimee Pittman.”

  “Oh, so you are Clint Pittman’s eldest daughter.” His fake voice was as annoying as Mrs. Pennington.

  “Yes, that is my father.” She hated this stupid Gala already.

  “My mom works on several committees with your mother.”

  “Really?” She was anxious to hear what Deandre has being say about her.

  “Yes, but I have to say, Deandre looks way too young to have a daughter our age.”

  “That would be because she is too young. She is my stepmother.”

  Ashton looked surprised. “Your parents are divorced? Wow.”

  “No, Ashton, my mother is deceased.” Aimee had enough of him, she turned to walk away.

  “I’m sorry, Aimee, my father did not tell me that.”

  Aimee stopped and turned toward him. “Your father?”

  “Yes, my father is Edward Meeks. Your father’s campaign manager.”

  Mr. Meeks was the one person on the campaign team who she did not meet during her intern work. “Excuse me?”

  Morgan took Aimee by the arm. “Let’s go for a walk.”

  “No, this conversation is just getting interesting to me.”

  Aimee started to drill Ashton; she had lots of questions she wanted answers to. That is when Tanner Scites came over and greeted her.

  “Aimee Pittman, I hear that you are going to be joining us at the University of Richmond in a few weeks.”

  “What? No, I am continuing my studies abroad. Who told you that?”

  “I just overheard your dad telling Mr. Daniels that you will be studying business at the University of Richmond when fall classes resume.”

  “He has mistaken. And why, all of sudden, are people calling Deandre my mother?”

  Tanner frowned. “I over heard some of the ladies saying that Deandre adopted you after your mom…”

  “She did no such thing. What is going on here?”

  Ashton came over. “Tara told me about your mom’s accident, so I called my dad. He informed me that he was aware of your mother’s accident, and that he was going to use the story for sympathy votes….”

  “NO!” Aimee yelled and started walking off. “I will not allow that. He will not tarnish the memory of my mother that way.”

  “I have to go.” Aimee was hurt and mad; she had tears pouring out of her eyes and down her face. She did not care what she looked like, or noticed her. All she was thinking about was running, as fast as she could, for the front entrance. She could get her father’s car and leave this horrible event. The valet met her, and she instructed him to bring around the limo for the Clint Pittman family.

  Morgan finally caught up with her while she waited for the limo. “Aimee, I am sorry, I was going to get you alone and tell you what was happening.”

  She turned to face him. “Whose idea was this?”

  “Deandre came up with it; and, she told my dad. He, along with M
r. Meeks, pressured your dad until he agreed.”

  “Why would they do this?”

  “I don’t know, Aimee; my mom and I told dad we thought it was wrong. I think all they see is the poll numbers.”

  “Thanks, Morgan. Will you tell my dad I will send the car back for him and his wife?” Aimee took her seat in the waiting limo.

  Chapter Two

  Shocked. That was the only word Aimee could think of to describe herself at this very moment. She was unsure which thought was more absurd; that Deandre was telling everyone she adopted Aimee, or that she was telling people that she is Aimee’s mother. She could not understand how her dad had allowed this charade to happen, or let Deandre put her mom’s memory in shame this way.