Read Online Falling Stars (Starstruck Series Book 2) by Krys Janae - Free Book Online Page B

ride in the big city.  However, Alisa noted that the man who jumped in with her was no stranger at all.
    “Thought you could get away from me that easy?”
    Alisa said nothing.  She had no intentions of talking to Evan, not yet at least, so she remained silent.
    “Where to, miss?”  The cab driver, who had Bob Marley stickers along the partition on the passenger side, puffed on his cigarette before tossing it out the window.
    Before Alisa could answer, Evan chimed in and gave the address to the driver.  She sat back quietly.  She had nothing to say to her companion, and quite frankly, she just wanted to take in the sights in peace.  Alisa was grateful that the ride over was quiet, other than the instrumental reggae music playing through the cab speakers.  The driver hummed along to the tunes.
    It wasn’t until the cab started over the bridge into Manhattan that Alisa’s eyes lit up like it was Christmas morning.  The sun, from what you could see of it as it started to rise, illuminated the high-rise buildings unlike anything she had ever seen.  Over the last year or so, she had grown accustomed to the view in Los Angeles, but it was very different here.  Her heart was in overdrive.  It was such a dream come true, and uplifting, considering the night she had just been through.
    “How’d you enjoy the flight?” Evan finally spoke up.
    She refrained from giving an answer.
    “Me? You know, coach wasn’t so bad.  I usually fly First Class, but since we had to fly out so quickly, this flight was all booked up, and I had to offer up my first class seat.  I enjoyed the snack. Listened to some music.  My phone is pretty old, so it died in the middle of my favorite playlist … kind of a bummer.”
       She couldn’t help but smile.
    “There she is.”  Evan smiled, looking over at Alisa rather than out the window.
    “What?”  Alisa cracked, arching a brow at the overly outspoken director.
    There was apology written all over his face.  Figuring that he may have cracked through the ice of her resentment and silence, Evan just pointed out the window, knowing how ecstatic she was over her new surroundings.  “Welcome to New York City, sweetheart.”
    “Aha, is it yer first time here in de city, miss?”  The cab driver finally decided to speak.   Alisa could tell by the inflections in his voice that he was amused by her awe.
    Alisa mustered a nod, her eyes bugging out like a kid in a candy store.
    “Let me be de first native to welcome you, den.  Just don’t believe everythin’ you see on the television, though sometimes it comes pretty damn close.”  He was a jovial sort, smiling from ear to ear.  If she ran into people half as kind as he was, she would be set, but she knew that wasn’t the case.
    After exchanging a glance with Evan, she looked at the cabbie and smiled.  “Thank you, sir.”
    “No need fer thankin’ me, and no need fer formalities, mum. I am no sir.”
    “You are to me, sir, and thank you for your warm welcome.” Alisa boldly replied.  There was a similar exchange in an older movie she’d watched, and she went for it.  The scene she was in mirrored the movie so well; she had a hard time telling fiction from reality.
    They reached their hotel just outside of Times Square.  Their cab driver took the fare and helped them unload their bags onto the sidewalk.  When they opened the door, she heard the roar of the street just outside, horns honking, sirens blaring, people chattering everywhere.  It was definitely like the movie she’d seen.
    “Just down the street ‘ere is a nice little restaurant, be servin’ I-talian food with no rival.  Up de street you’ll find a few nice romantic sights, and if you feel up to a stroll in Central Park, it’s just around de corner ‘ere.  Are you two on a vacation or maybe yer honeymoon, then?”
    Looking over at the driver with wide eyes, she was instantly dumbfounded.
    Evan cleared his throat, “Not exactly, sir.  We’re