Sweet Memory

SWEET MEMORY THE PAINTED DAISIES BOOK 1 LJ EVANS This book is a work of fiction. While reference might be made to actual historical events or existing people and locations, the events, 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. SWEET MEMORY © 2023 by LJ Evans All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, or stored, in any retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without the prior written permission of the publisher of this book. If you find this book on a free book website, it is stolen property and illegal to download. Published by THAT’S WHAT SHE SAID PUBLISHING www.ljevansbooks.com Cover Design: © Emily Wittig Cover Images: © Unsplash | weston m, Deposit Photos | VadimVasenin and Dekues, iStock| Punnarong, and Adobe | npstockphoto Content & Line Editor: Evans Editing Copy Editor: Jenn Lockwood Editing Services Proofing: Karen Hrdlicka Sensitivity Editor: Hong Kobzeff Library of Congress Cataloging in process. Paperback ISBN: 979-8-88643-910-6 eBook ISBN: 979-8-88643-908-3 Printed in the United States 030823 CONTENTS Playlist PROLOGUE 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 Chapter 29 Chapter 30 Chapter 31 Chapter 32 Chapter 33 Chapter 34 Chapter 35 Chapter 36 Chapter 37 Chapter 38 Chapter 39 Chapter 40 Chapter 41 Chapter 42 Chapter 43 Chapter 44 Epilogue GREEN JEWEL - SNEAK PEEK Message from the Author Acknowledgments About the Author Other Titles by LJ Evans https://spoti.fi/3y21AZk For those who have lost the one person they thought they couldn’t live without, may there be a light that shines through your darkest days, and at least one voice who knows exactly what you need. PROLOGUE SAVING GRACE Performed by The Cranberries TWENTY-THREE MONTHS BEFORE LANDRY: This photo showed up at the farmhouse this morning. I’d prefer to keep it between the two of us until we’ve assessed the real threat level. ***image of a blond-haired, teen guy and a black-haired, teen girl on stage with their arms around each other while singing with the rest of the band in the background. All the faces are scraped off and the words, I will make sure you’re never happy, are written atop it.*** GARNER: The fewer people who know, the better chance of us keeping it from the press, but I’d advise at least telling them. LANDRY: We’re leaving Grand Orchard in a couple of days, and Paisley will never see Jonas again, so hopefully it won’t matter. GARNER: This could be about more than the two of them. It could be about the band. LANDRY: That’s why I’m sending it to you. GARNER: The attendees at the promo event were limited. I’ll go through the list and see if I can come up with a possible suspect. TWENTY-TWO MONTHS BEFORE PAISLEY: Is it strange that I miss Grand Orchard when we only left five minutes ago? JONAS: Is it strange that I feel like meeting you was just a dream? PAISLEY: If it was, then we had the same one. TWENTY-ONE MONTHS BEFORE TREVOR: Hey, you know that kid Jonas got into the beef with? MARCO: Yeah. TREVOR: He got arrested. Breaking and entering. Stole some art and computers from the girl’s place. The one he and Jonas were fighting over. He tore her room up pretty good. I think he wanted to find out where her parents took her. MARCO: Okay. Keep an eye on it for me. TREVOR: Going to tell Jonas? MARCO: No. He blames himself enough already. If the asshole is going to jail, there’s no reason to upset him. TWENTY MONTHS BEFORE JONAS: CONGRATS on The Red Guitar going platinum! PAISLEY: I sort of can’t believe it. Landry is already practicing her award speech. JONAS: You ALL should be practicing. It’s absolutely going to be nominated. PAISLEY: ***Laughing GIF*** No way am I talking at the Grammys. I can barely get my butt onstage to perform. At least once I get out there, I have the music to lose myself in. Can you imagine all those eyes waiting for me to talk? ***Shivers GIF*** ***Puke emoji*** JONAS: Say it with me: “Paisley Kim is a FUCKING GENIUS ROCK STAR!” PAISLEY: ***Embarrassed emoji*** I gotta go. The band wants to celebrate. JONAS: Do me a favor? PAISLEY: Yeah? JONAS: HAVE FUN! PAISLEY: Fun? What is this fun you speak of? JONAS: I’m serious, Paise. You’ve earned this. Enjoy! SEVENTEEN MONTHS BEFORE JONAS: Remember months ago when I told you the album would win a Grammy? I hate to say I told you so, but I TOLD YOU SO! PAISLEY: We saw Brady and got to thank him in person for producing our album. It wouldn’t have won any awards if it wasn’t for the two of you. JONAS: ***Embarrassed emoji*** I didn’t do anything. I can’t believe any of you even listened to me. PAISLEY: You have a natural talent, Jonas. It’s not just about the lyrics or the notes. You see how it can be put together. JONAS: Puhlease. You’re the natural talent. There would be no lyrics or notes without you. PAISLEY: How are your classes going? JONAS: I see what you did, changing the subject. But I’ll allow it. I hate high school. I don’t fit in here. But then, I never fit back in Austin either. At least there I had Mel. The night classes at Wilson-Jacobs are the best part of my days now. PAISLEY: I’m in awe of you. I barely got my G.E.D. with Landry’s help. I can’t imagine juggling high school and college.