Page 31 of Before Eve

“Come with us,” I tell her, feeling more and more nervous as time draws near.

Anne snorts. “No way, chica. You’re a big girl. You’ll be fine.”

She’s right. It’s not like this is the first time I’ve been alone with West. I mean, we’re alone every morning for our run. But this is different. This isn’t a run. It’s like a date or something. Although he didn’t use that word.

It’s your day off. Spend it with me.Those were his exact words.

“You need to loosen up. It’s not like he’s going to eat you.” Mischievousness glimmers. “Or maybe he will.”

“Anne!”

“You guys hang out every day. What’s the big deal?”

“True…”

Anne cocks a pierced brow. “Dude’s got it bad for you. You realize that, right?”

“We’re really just trying to be friends.”

Anne snorts. “Whatever you’ve got to tell yourself.” She puts her iPad down. “Listen, I love you to death, girl, but it’s clear you’ve got a lot of shit you’re working through, and that’s cool. You and me, we’re cool either way. But go with West and just hang out. Don’t worry about friendship or romance or whatever. Just…be. You know what I mean?”

A knock sounds on our door, and my nerves kick back in as Anne hops out of bed to let West in. The door closes, and it’s the three of us and our tiny room. His yummy shower smell wafts across the space and surreptitiously, I inhale. He looks straight at me, his eyes crinkle with a smile, and it’s totally my imagination but the walls seem to shrink in.

“Hey, Blue Eyes, ready?”

With a nod, I walk over to grab my stuff.

He notes the dancing pigs on my shirt. “Those Miss Piggies?”

“Yes.”

“I really do need to show you my underwear sometime.”

Anne perks up. “Well, drop ‘em. No time like the now.”

West gives her a playful shove.

“Eve changed outfitstwotimes,” Anne rats me out.

“Well, I changed three,” he says with a wink. “That means I’m winning the primp game.”

I do love how he can make everything into a joke.

West gives my blue long-sleeve T-shirt and jeans a once over. His perusal makes my skin heat, and I busy myself with putting my hat on so he won’t see. Does he remember telling me that blue brings out my eyes?

West turns toward the door, catching sight of the duct tapeI always press over the peephole. “That’s weird.” He reaches up to tear it off.

“Don’t!” I snap before I realize it’s come out. He jerks back and spins.

I panic.

“Have fun.” Anne hands me a lightweight jacket and opens the door. She gives West a little shove out into the hall. “Forget about everything,” she whispers to me. “Seriously, have fun.”

I follow behind West, my insides flopping all over the place. This is going to be an interesting day.

CHAPTER 16

At Mommy’s funeral,I hold Grayson’s hand. I try to be brave, but tears roll uncontrollably. There are so many people here. Did Mommy know them all?