You Before Anyone Else Read Free

girlfriend Eve. Alex and I did a big Calvin Klein shoot last year, and Eve was the photographer’s assistant. Actually, Eve used to be a model too, another preteen/teen phenom like Elana, who headlined that CK shoot along with Alex. My part had been fairly small, and still, that was my biggest job ever.
    â€œHave you met Alex?”
    Summer shrugs, grabs two more shots of vodka, and hands me one. “Like I would remember.”
    I down the shot quickly and prepare to talk to Alex and Eve. Maybe they’ve done drugs and can advise me. But my buzzing phone distracts me. I pull it out of my purse and glance at the new text.
    JASON: Yeah, it’s so weird to be home again. But I missed it.
    My stomach flip-flops. He replied to my text. Hours later, but still…this could mean—
    â€œOh lord, you’re pathetic.” Summer is leaned toward me, reading over my shoulder. “That’s probably enough for you to live off of for another six months or so, right?”
    I glare at her and shove the phone back into my purse.
    â€œNo comeback? Wonder why…” She pretends to be in deep thought. “He said he missed it . Not you. Cut the fucking cord already. It’s not healthy.”
    If only it were that easy. When you’re in a relationship with someone for four years, you get so comfortable with that person. It’s daunting to start all over again.
    I make my way across the room to see Alex and Eve, who are leaning against the back of the couch, more absorbed in each other than anything else.
    â€œI heard Elana’s back from France?” Alex asks me, keeping his voice low.
    â€œYep, her and her mom. I think her mom is driving her crazy, but that’s to be expected. French Mama is driving me crazy too.”
    They both laugh at the mention of French Mama, but I can’t take credit for that title. Summer made it up.
    â€œI can’t believe her parents let her come back to New York,” Eve says.
    Alex smiles at her. “You’re just upset that they’re here and not in France where we can hit them up for lodging.”
    My gaze travels back and forth between the two of them. “You guys are going to France? Are you going for Fashion Week?”
    Eve shakes her head. “Nope. I did the Prada shoot, and I’m done for good. Got tuition for next year covered.”
    Even though Eve had supposedly quit modeling a few years ago, she pulled a one-last-job stunt last spring to cover her tuition at Columbia. She’s a photography student with a lot of experience under her belt.
    â€œWe’re doing the cheap travel, backpacking in Europe but without actual backpacks thing,” Alex explains.
    Across the room, another beer pong player is being requested. This could possibly be the most adventurous thing I’m willing to do here. I turn to Alex and Eve again. “Well, good luck in Europe. I’m gonna go play beer pong.”
    â€œHey.” I grab Dima’s shirt sleeve. “You need another player?”
    He looks me over, deliberating. “Sure. Be the new guy’s partner.”
    â€œThe new guy?” I glance around. What does that even mean? New to the party, like he just walked in? I’ve been here fifteen minutes.
    â€œHe’s new to the agency,” Dima says. “First casting, and he books some big job.”
    â€œSo we hate him then, right?” I joke. I turn around to head toward the game table and run right into a guy about my age with wild, dark curly hair and designer jeans.
    â€œThis guy,” Dima says to me and then turns to the new guy. “Got you a partner. Finley. She lives in the agency apartment downstairs.”
    They exchange a look that says I’ve been mentioned before. I’m not liking that too much, but usually, I don’t come to these parties. Instead, I bang on the door at two in the morning to tell them to stop thumping around like elephants. Maybe I got a bad