Page 29 of Before Eve

Rain slows to a drizzle now and I shiver. A few joggers resume their run on the paths below. Silence hangs between us,and I can see the anxiety thatIfeel in him, too. I want the sensation back from a moment ago and not all this thinking.

West gives a defeated sigh, and the sound of it breaks my heart. I made that sound.

He looks at the spot beside him, silently inviting me, and I move over to sit. I need to say something and make all this awkwardness go away. Because…I like West. I don’t want to run him off. He’s such a part of my everyday life now, I can’t imagine him not in it. I can’t imagine him not being my friend.

I shiver again, and he lifts his arm to put it around me. “Okay?” he asks.

That question absolutely warms me, and I nod as he wraps his arm around me and pulls me in snug, cocooning me with all that is him. Together we watch the remnants of the rain, the sun sneaking out, and more joggers emerging.

West turns to me. “This is nice.”

I’m so glad the weirdness is dissipating. “Yes, it is. I’m… I’m sorry it’s so hard to be around me sometimes.”

“You’re worth the effort,” he whispers.

“Thank you,” I whisper back, relaxing, slowly gaining back my comfort level.

“There’s a strength in you. You just need to believe in it.”

His words stun me.

He lowers his head so his lips brush my ear, and a tremor skips down my neck. “One day you’ll really see that.”

I hope he’s right.

He toys with the ends of my short wet hair, and I simply enjoy the tugging on my scalp. True affection. No wonder people crave it. Need it. It’s wonderful.

Though I’m not ready I still say, “You ready to head back?”

“No. But I suppose we should.”

We jog back in silence as I replay what just happened between us over and over again in my head.

Finally, we reach the hotel and push through the revolving door into the lobby.

“West!” an enthusiastic fan waves.

A phone comes up, poised for a picture, and I duck and make a demon dash for the stairwell.

CHAPTER 14

“Eve!”West yells, chasing after me.

I leap the steps two at a time.

There’s nowhere you can run that I won’t find you.

Grayson’s words bang through my head and propel me faster up the stairs. What if that picture shows up somewhere? What if he sees it?

“Eve!” West races up the steps behind me. He grabs my arm. “Stop. What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.” I tug free. “I don’t like my picture taken, that’s all. Is that so hard to understand? Not all of us live for fame and glory.” It’s a horrible response.

“That’s not fair.”

He’s right. It’s not. But I turn away and keep climbing.

West lets out a defeated sigh. “Eve. Please stop.”