Infinite Moment of Us , livre ebook

has been the model daughter, which in her family means all As, zero boyfriends, and early acceptance into a pre-med program. But as high school graduation nears, so does an uncomfortable realization. Pleasing her parents once overlapped with pleasing herself, but now not so much. Wren needs to honor her own desires, but how can she if she doesn t even know what they are?
Charlie Parker, on the other hand, knows exactly what he wants. A gentle boy with a troubled past, Charlie has loved Wren since the day he first saw her. But a girl like Wren would never fall for a guy like Charlie-at least not the sort of guy Charlie believes himself to be.
And yet certain things are written in the stars. In the summer after high school, Wren s and Charlie s souls will collide. But souls are complicated, as are the bodies that house them
With all the sweetness-and steaminess-of first romance, this gorgeous novel, from one of young adult literature s most distinctive voices, explores that time between high school and college when life seems to be just beginning, and everything-including true love-is possible.

PUBLISHER S NOTE: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Myracle, Lauren, 1969- The infinite moment of us / by Lauren Myracle. pages cm Summary: As high school graduation nears, Wren Gray is surprised to connect with gentle Charlie Parker, a boy with a troubled past who has loved her for years, while she considers displeasing her parents for the first time and changing the plans for her future. ISBN 978-1-4197-0793-3 (hardback) [1. Dating (Social customs)-Fiction. 2. Love-Fiction. 3. Family life-Georgia-Fiction. 4. Assertiveness (Psychology)-Fiction. 5. Atlanta (Ga.)-Fiction.] I. Title. PZ7.M9955Inf 2013 [Fic]-dc23 2013017135
Text copyright 2013 Lauren Myracle Jacket and title page photography copyright 2013 Image Source/Image Source/Getty Images; Digital Vision/Digital Vision/Getty Images; Thaikrit/Shutterstock Book design by Maria T. Middleton
Published in 2013 by Amulet Books, an imprint of ABRAMS. All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, mechanical, electronic, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without written permission from the publisher.
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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
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
It was all beginning: everything that came next.
This was true for every senior at Atlanta s Southview High School, not just Wren. And every senior would be setting off on his or her own path, and every senior s path would be different, so there were no earth-shattering surprises there, either. Still, Wren s situation was unusual, or at least she suspected it was.
She didn t always trust her own opinions, however, probably because her parents were so invested in doing her thinking for her. Of course you like grapefruit juice, her mom said to her just this morning, drawing back in dismay after Wren said she d prefer coffee, please. You ve always liked grapefruit juice. It s your favorite. I got it especially for you, fresh-squeezed, as a treat for the last day of school.
Wren drank the juice, ashamed of herself for complaining. Except Wren hadn t actually complained, had she? She d just said, No thanks. I don t really like grapefruit juice. Because she didn t-did she?
Her dad stayed out of the grapefruit juice discussion, but he had plenty to say on other topics, such as her plans for the future. Particularly her plans for the future. Wren s body felt heavy, and she wished that her friend Tessa, who was giving Wren a ride to school, would keep driving and never turn back.
But that was a fantasy. Tessa couldn t solve Wren s problems for her. If Wren wanted to change her life, then she was the one who d have to make it happen.
Tessa pulled into the seniors parking lot and turned off the engine. She finger-combed her long blond hair, swiped a coat of shiny lip gloss over her lips, and grinned at her reflection in the visor mirror. She slapped the visor shut.
You ready? she said to Wren.
Sure, Wren said. Her gut clenched. No-wait.
Tessa stopped smiling. She d been Wren s best friend since second grade, so she knew a bit about the ins and outs of Wren s home life. What s up? Everything okay?
No, yeah, everything s fine, Wren said. It s just my mom made a special breakfast this morning. Bacon, eggs, and biscuits.
Tessa tilted her head.
The biscuits were made from scratch. She used a heart-shaped cookie cutter.
Ah, Tessa said.
Oh, and grapefruit juice, because that s my favorite.
What? You hate grapefruit juice.
I know, Wren said, feeling a wash of relief.
Tessa searched Wren s expression. Occasionally, over the years, kids had teased Wren about what an only Wren was. Meaning an only child. Meaning that Wren, as an only child, seemed more sheltered than most kids. She was a people pleaser, a do-gooder, a worrier. She was too much of a watcher, not enough of a doer. Those were Wren s offenses.
Tessa had been to Wren s house, though. She knew Wren s mom and dad, so she knew that Wren s behavior was a product of more than being an only child.
They think you re part of them, Tessa once said about Wren s parents. Like a leg, or a spare arm. It s weird .
I know, Wren said. But they love me.
Tessa, who had two older brothers and lived with a rush-about mom, had muttered, A little too much, if you ask me.
Now, sitting in the high school parking lot, Tessa said, You haven t told them?
Wren shook her head. Way back in January, she d been admitted early decision to Emory, the prestigious university where her mom worked. Then, in March, she found out she d been awarded a merit scholarship. Her parents were over the moon.
You can come home every weekend, her mom exclaimed. Or we can come to you. Weekdays, too, if you feel like a home-cooked meal. Whatever you want, sweetheart.
But a week ago, Wren withdrew her acceptance agreement. She didn t know where she d found the courage, but it felt good. Forget that, it felt great. Only, she kind of hadn t shared the news with her parents yet-the part about Emory or the bit about what she planned to do instead.
My stomach hurts, Wren told Tessa. She frowned, trying to figure out what other emotions she might be feeling. I am excited, though.
About finally being free? Tessa said. You should be excited. God, you deserve to be. A friend of Tessa s rapped on the hood of Tessa s car, and Tessa waved. Kids streamed past them, laughing and talking. Go with that, okay?
Okay, Wren said, glad when her voice stayed steady. Thanks, Tesseract. Although you do know that there s no such thing as a tesseract.
Tessa laughed at Wren s slightly mangled version of the quote, which was from Wren s favorite novel, A Wrinkle in Time . A tesseract was a four-dimensional cube, which, by definition, couldn t exist in the three-dimensional world. In the novel, a tesseract was used as a shortcut through time, which, by definition, also couldn t exist in the real world.
Wren liked impossible things, though. Wren thought that Tessa, who flitted through life like a hummingbird, was an impossible thing. Tessa came across as go-go-go and all toe-bouncing high energy, but underneath her party-girl exterior, she had a wise and loyal heart. She came as close to knowing the real Wren as anyone ever had.
No such thing as me? Tessa said, gesturing like a game-show hostess at the physical proof of her existence. She looked adorable in a pink cami and cutoffs. I think you re mistaken. So, shall we go greet our adoring fans?
Wren smiled. Your adoring fans? Let s do it.
They joined the throng of kids strolling toward the building. The warm spring air tickled Wren s legs, bare beneath her white skirt, which grazed the tops of her knees. The pressure in her lungs loosened.
Can you believe it? said Delaney, a drama club friend who was off to New York in the fall. Can you believe we re seriously done?!
Hells no, Tessa replied. And yet here we are!
Shaniqua Stewart bounded over and draped her arm over Wren s shoulders. Hey, girl. You psyched about Emory?
Wren smiled self-consciously. Shaniqua was one of her honors-track buddies. Are you psyched about Princeton? she shot back. You re probably packed already, huh?
Shaniqua laughed. To Tessa, she said, And you. Don t go too crazy at Georgia-except, what am I saying? Of course you will.
Tessa blew her a kiss. At the end of August, Tessa would head to the University of Georgia with almost half their senior class.
Tessa! Wren! Owen Bussell shouted, making a megaphone out of his hands. Owen was the class valedictorian. On Saturday, at their graduation, he d be giving a speech. You re looking fine, ladies!
Right back atcha, O, Tessa called. Don t bore us on Saturday!
I ll do my best, he said.
A group of girls spread the news about a party P.G. Barbee was hosting on Saturday night. Y all kn