“I have no fucking clue.”
“Mystery cake. All the more reason to go down there.”
I didn’t agree.
But I grabbed my camera and followed her anyway.
“How long have you known Maddie?” I asked as I death gripped the railing and took each step like I was on a high-wire going between 2Cal and 1Cal Plaza. The last thing I needed was to fall and break my neck.
Or worse, make a bigger ass of myself in front of Greer.
“Our whole lives,” she said. “Literally.”
“Secret sisters separated at birth?” I joked, though they didn’t look alike at all.
She laughed, and it was soft but as fucking pretty as the rest of her. “Nothing that exciting since my life isn’t a corny drama.” Her smile faded just as fast as it’d formed, and even in the dimly lit stairwell, I could see her frown as she muttered, “Usually, at least.”
“What’s that mean?”
She ignored my question as her expression smoothed out. “Our moms are best friends, so we were destined to be besties, too.”
Built-in friends were better than the built-in ass-kissers I had, but I didn’t have the chance to share that before she opened the door. The real world rushed back around me, the sounds overwhelming and just as depressing as before I’d fled.
Or it would’ve been if not for Greer.
“There they are,” she said, touching my arm. My gaze stayed stuck on where her soft skin connected with mine. When she took her hand away to point, my heart broke a little, but I lifted my focus to look at where she gestured. Easton sat on a barstool next to a high-top with Maddie standing between his legs.
It wasn’t as intimate as when she was sitting at his feet in Gilded, but it was as close as they could get on that side of the building.
As we approached, I realized they weren’t just chatting in a close hold. Maddie had her phone out and was furiously tapping the screen in between scans of the crowds.
Greer must’ve noticed at the same time I did because her pace picked up.
Which meant mine did, too.
Maddie’s blue eyes landed on Greer first, her shoulders slumping in relief. The same eyes widened when she looked over to see me tailing her friend. She moved her focus back to Greer. “I thought you left.”
“I stepped out to get some fresh air,” Greer said, not throwing me under the bus—or off the roof. “You seemed to be otherwise occupied.”
Maddie gave an apologetic smile that contradicted her unapologetic shrug. She leaned back into Easton, but her gaze darted between Greer and me. “I see the birthday boy extracted himself from his adoring entourage long enough for you two to meet.”
That emptiness didn’t have time to seep through me before Greer subtly reached back and touched my arm again.
“I did. Him and his camera.” She smiled at me over her shoulder. “But he’s going to delete those pictures.”
No way in hell.
“Maybe after you have a drink with me,” I said instead.
A nearby server heard my words and abandoned gathering empty glasses to rush over. He zeroed in on me. “What can I get you?”
I gestured to the others to go first.
Easton ordered, starting with Maddie’s ridiculous drink as usual. “Dirty Shirley with an orange slice and cherries, bourbon neat, and a tequila and club soda with a lime.”
I was guessing the last one was for Greer, and there was an irrational twist of jealousy in my gut. Like I should’ve magically known what she liked so I could be the one to order it for her.
Belatedly realizing the server was still waiting, I said, “Water.”
