Page 9 of Before Eve

The one on the left leans up and whispers something into his ear, and he gives her a gentle push away. “Thank you, ladies, but I’m spoken for.” He holds up his phone. “Speaking of which, I’m going to give Kirstie a call.”

“Kirstie, Kirstie, Kirstie,” West teases.

“What? She keeps me grounded.” Simon gives me a nod. “I’ll be seeing you around, Eve.”

I nod back.

West gets a text then and checks his phone. “I’m going out with some buddies in about an hour. You want to join us? You can bring that friend of yours. Anne, right?”

I find myself nodding to the Anne part, but not to the other. Part of me wants to go and part of me doesn’t, so I say, “Thanks, but I’ll pass.”

He squints at me. “You sure?”

“Yes, I’m sure.”

“Okay, maybe some other time.”

“Maybe,” I agree, wondering if I really mean that. Go out with West and his friends? I can’t even imagine that.

“You’re just saying that, aren’t you?”

“Yes,” I honestly tell him.

He laughs out loud. “Honesty. Hm. I like you even more, Blue Eyes.”

My cheeks get all hot again right as Ms. Kelly comes up to the side. “West, a word?”

He gives me a little wave, and I send him a small one as well before he follows Ms. Kelly from the room.

Yep, I’ve officially got a crush on West Wolf.

A couple more hours come and go, and I’m definitely disappointed that West never returns. As I’m cleaning up, I get a text from Anne.

Anne: Heading to the hotel. You good?

I text her a thumbs up emoji, then catch sight of an email notification from Brynn’s fake account. We agreed not to contact each other unless absolutely necessary.

This can’t be good.

CHAPTER 5

In our hotel suite,I stand at the bank of windows that overlook downtown Los Angeles. Streets and alleyways crisscross, busy with pedestrians and vehicles. I imagine joining the throng, disappearing, never to be found.

Behind me, Grayson sits sipping coffee and reviewing his notes on the speech he’s due to give later today.

I catch my reflection, perfect from head to toe with neither a flyaway hair nor a wrinkle in my knee-length, white pressed dress.

With a soft sigh, I refocus on the busy energy of the streets below. A woman with a girl about my age, twelve or so, giggle as they run to catch a cab. Their happiness makes a soft smile tug at my lips. What are they doing today? Shopping? Whatever it is, I wish I was doing it with them. I wish I could jump into that cab and fall off the earth.

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

The tiny smile that had drifted into my lips flickers away as I refocus on Grayson, still sitting behind me but now staring right at me.

“Always remember that, Laura.” He goes back to looking athis notes. “Now go fix yourself. Your hair is ratty. And put a slip on. I can see straight through your dress. You look like a slut.”

The email notification from Brynn’s fake account continues to glare at me. A lump forms in my gut. It transitions into something bigger, thicker, and I’m sick as I touch my finger to the screen.

I don’t know how, but they figured out that you took a bus. That’s all I know for now. I hope you’re safe. I love you. ~B