Page 20 of Before Eve

I find this statement pleases me way more than it probably should.

“Of course, it’s okay to be friends,” he continues, but something in his tone tells me he doesn’t entirely mean that. And that pleases me more than it should as well. “We’re going to New York in a week or so. Ever been?”

That question lightens the mood even more, and I grab the folded map I had shoved in my back pocket.

“Where’d you get that thing?”

“At the rest stop on the way here.” I unfold it and spread it out on the table the best I can.

He scoots his chair around to look with me. “I’ve been to New York a lot. Maybe I can help.”

I’ve actually been to New York too. I’ve been to tons of places with Grayson and yet nowhere really. Sure we traveled but what is there to really see when you go from hotel to event to dinner, all while playing a role?

I run through the mental list I made the last time we were in New York, and I wasn’t allowed to do anything other than follow Grayson around. “Well, I want to visit Ground Zero, Statue of Liberty, and all the other major stuff. Oh, and I definitely want to eat in Little Italy.”

“Simon!” a girl squeals. With curly auburn hair and freckles, she races into the coffee shop. She launches herself at him, and he catches her up in a big hug.

My lips curve as they sweetly kiss.

“So in love,” West jokes.

“They’re adorable,” I say. They’re perfect.

Simon turns her toward us, and she skips over to give West a big hug too. “Well, aren’t you just as cute as ever?” she says.

He gives her a kiss on the cheek and a squeeze. “How long you here for?”

“Just a couple of days.” She turns toward me then and sticks out her hand. “Hi, I’m Kirstie.”

I shake her hand, immediately drawn in by her friendliness. “I’m Eve.” She glances between me and West with an inquisitive look.

“I’m a roadie,” I tell her.

“She’s in sound.” Simon comes up behind Kirstie, wrapping his arms around her. “She’s kind of like Ford’s assistant.”

Assistant? Wow, I like that.

Kirstie lights up with honest enthusiasm. “That sounds like a fun job.”

“It is!” I love that she thinks my job is fun.

Simon gives her a little tug and Kirstie waves. “Bye, Eve. Nice meeting you.”

“You, too.”

She giggles as she snuggles in next to Simon, and they walk to the elevator. The door opens, they step inside, and Simon backs her up against the wall. She lifts one leg and curls it around his hip, and his hand disappears under the skirt of her dress as she pulls his head to hers for a thorough kiss.

The elevator door slides closed, and I don’t move.

Wow. That was just, wow.

Slowly, I turn back to the map to find West staring at me.

One dark brow lifts in amusement, telling me he knows exactly what I was just looking at, and I grab the map in mortification and roughly begin to refold it.

I can’t believe I just sat here and watched Simon make out with Kirstie.

West’s ever-present grin returns as he watches me fumble with the map. “Oh, come on, don’t leave yet.”