Read Online You Before Anyone Else by Julie Cross and Mark Perini - Free Book Online

weren’t for the mess of dark curly hair in the photo, I would have thought Eddie was a pickpocket. Not only because it’s a New York State license and Eddie claimed to be from Chicago, but also because the name across the top is Edward James Wellington IV. Not Eddie Wells.
    But seriously, Eddie is a fourth? There are four of him? As my dad would say per our PG household rules, holy shiitake!
    Not only did Eddie lie about his name and state of residence, his address is right here in the city, not far away from this apartment. And yet he’s sleeping on my balcony in a hard plastic chair after complaining yesterday about the cost of agency apartments.
    My brain is working on overdrive while I lean against the sliding door. He lied. Pretty much about everything. He made me think, yesterday after the shoot, that he’s struggling financially, that he really needed money. If he lives at this address, and not as the butler or butler’s kid, then Eddie—or Edward Wellington IV—has probably never worried about money a day in his life. What if this is some story our agency concocted? Make him look like he came from nothing, a human interest story. If the agency hadn’t pulled some similar shit last year, with my roommate Elana, I should add, I don’t think my mind would even go in that direction.
    My thoughts drift back to Eddie pausing outside my door, not sure if he wanted to come in. But outside of his name and hometown, which he barely talked about, it had felt real. At least to me.
    I glance at him again. Still sound asleep, he scratches at a red bump on his neck. A mosquito bite, most likely. And probably one of many. With a heavy sigh, I return the items I pulled from his wallet moments ago and begin tucking everything back into his bag. Whatever event or reason caused Eddie to lie about his name and history and live out of his backpack isn’t something simple. This has complicated and messed up written all over it. The question is, do I want to get involved or steer clear? And how can I steer clear of this guy if he keeps showing up at my jobs and on my balcony?
    And I still can’t decide if I’m pissed off at him or not. I mean, I should be, right?

CHAPTER 12
    Eddie
    â€œEddie?”
    A soft hand shakes me, creating a nice distraction from the intense itching going on all over my body. When I realize it’s Finley Belton, the very person who I’d hoped wouldn’t spot me out here this morning, I bolt upright.
    She steps back, assessing me. I can’t read anything from her expression.
    â€œOh, hey…” I glance around like an idiot, squinting at the sun. “I was just—”
    â€œSleeping on my balcony?” she prompts, one eyebrow lifted.
    â€œThe guys in my place needed a little alone time last night.” I point a finger at the floor above us. “I was gonna crash at Dima’s and then…” I pinch the bridge of my nose, remembering the awkward minutes I spent in Dima’s apartment before sneaking outside on the balcony and climbing down the fire escape.
    Finley and I both notice her lack of bra at the exact same time. Her cheeks turn a nice shade of pink, and she folds her arms across her chest. I avert my gaze upward.
    â€œThen what?” Finley asks in a tone that clearly indicates my answer will determine how pissed off or weirded out she is from finding me out here.
    â€œThen I didn’t really care for their choice of evening activities.”
    â€œLike what? Was it boy-on-boy related, because I heard that Dima likes to play games where—”
    That would have been awkward but different, much different. “More like the tossing drugs onto a table for everyone to share kind of game.”
    The exact thing I’d been so afraid of the previous night. The scene had been too familiar. But luckily, I had my head on straight enough to get the hell out of there.
    â€œOh.” The smile fades.