Page 22 of Before Eve

“Hey, back.”

“You’ve been gone forever. What, did you guys consummate things?”

I roll my eyes, and she giggles.

She points the remote at the TV, muting it, and flips a few channels. “Seriously, though, went good?”

“Yeah, it was good.” I unzip my duffel and pull out what I need for a shower.

She flips another channel, pausing. “This man is amazing. He does so much good in this world. Though the dude must have more money than God. Seems like every time I hear about him he’s donated millions to this or that.”

My heart slows to a dull thud as I carefully turn and look at the muted TV, and there—spread across thirty-two inches of a flat screen—is the man who haunts my entire life.

“National Domestic Abuse Foundation,” Anne says.

“What?” I croak.

“That’s what he donated the money to.”

National Domestic Abuse Foundation.That’s laughable.

Then to my horror, a clip of me flashes onto the screen, and all the air around me pushes in on my lungs.No!It’s me, but it’s not me. It’s the me I was with my long blond hair and my sweet, expected expression. This is from last year when I accompanied Grayson to Arizona and specifically a reservation. I’m standing beside him as he shakes hands with a Chief. Grayson turns and smiles down at me, and I force a smile back.

“Eve?”

With what feels like every muscle knotted in place, I robotically walk over and hit the channel up button. I dig the duct tape from my duffel, stick a piece over the peephole, and go straight into the bathroom. Breathing heavily to fight the panic curdling my stomach, I take my shirt off and I stare at the lashes marring my back. I can’t let him find me. I won’t.

CHAPTER 11

The next morningWest locates me in the hotel lobby. “Morning, Blue Eyes.”

I check out his shower-damp hair and grin, and my sleepless night seems to fade.

He looks directly at the Road Runner on my yellow tee. “Yeah, I might just have to show you my Daffy Duck undie collection.”

Just the thought of seeing his undies makes a flush crawl across my cheeks.

“I missed you on this morning’s run,” he says.

“Sorry.” I cringe. “Didn’t sleep very well. Next time,” I tell him.

“I’ll hold you to that.”

“Load ‘em up!” someone yells.

As the lobby begins to empty, I catch sight of a man in a suit, standing stoic, carefully scrutinizing each person.

West turns to me. “Coming?”

With a nod, I tug my ball cap down and hurry outside straight to one of the vans where Anne already waits.

West catches up. “Come on. You two ride with me on theMack Daddy bus. It’s way more comfortable than the tech vans.”

“Rock on!” Anne slings her backpack over her shoulder.

“Thanks,” I say, beelining it past Anne, and up onto the bus West always rides on.

“Well, hey,” the driver greets me.