You Before Anyone Else Read Free Page A

rep.
    While we wait for Dima to find a partner, I snatch two beers from a nearby cooler and offer one up to New Guy. “So, Dima said you’re new, but he didn’t say where you’re from.”
    â€œUh…the Midwest.”
    â€œThe Midwest.” Okay. Someone doesn’t want to get personal. “Like Wisconsin or like Chicago?”
    â€œChicago…well, not in Chicago, but around it, you know?” he says.
    â€œRight.” I pop open my can and take a drink. “What’s your name? I’m sorry, I don’t think Dima said…”
    â€œEddie.” He lifts his gaze again. “Eddie Wells. And you’re Finley Belton, the girl who lives downstairs.”
    Summer breezes past me but stops when she spots me holding the beer pong ball. “Beer pong? Oh, you wild animal…grrrr.” She holds up her tiger paws and growls at me.
    I give her the finger and then turn back to Eddie. “I’m one of the girls who live downstairs.”
    â€œOne is too bitchy, one is too underage, and one is nice,” he recites, most likely quoting Dima.
    This is exactly what I’m trying to escape tonight. “Dima called me the baby bear?” I’m secretly hoping he catches my reference to Goldilocks.
    â€œNo,” Eddie says. “He called you Finley Belton, but I added the nice part, because you brought me a beer. And it is just right, not to mention you’re talking to me instead of staring and whispering to other people about me.”
    Points for his fairy tale knowledge, and I’m sure the whispering is the result of whatever big job he’s landed. Too many models at this party.
    Eve tries to be Dima’s partner, but he refuses and tells Alex to play with him. Eve opens her mouth to protest, but Dima holds up a hand. “Don’t even. I know your type. You’ll engineer some fancy trick shots. No Ivy League players showing me up. I got a rep to protect.”
    â€œFine,” Eve snaps. “I’ll just stand here and look pretty. And I’m definitely rooting for Fin and…” She gestures toward the new guy.
    â€œEddie,” I fill in for her. “Eddie from Chicago.”
    â€œEddie from Chicago,” Eve repeats. “Good luck.”
    Summer returns and stands beside Eve, both leaning against the back of the love seat.
    â€œFin makes a great partner,” Summer says to Eddie. “She knits. Lots of finger dexterity.”
    I shoot her a glare and will my face not to heat up. So not cool.

CHAPTER 4
    Eddie
    â€œFinger dexterity, huh?” I say to Finley.
    Dima might not have used the word nice when he gave me the quick 411 on the models downstairs, but he had labeled Finley as too sweet. But without proof, I’m undecided.
    She looks at me, a big smile on her face. “Yep. That’s a thing.”
    It’s a thing. All right then. I nod toward the table. “You take the first shot.”
    â€œJust so you know—” Finley rolls the ball between her fingers.
    â€œDon’t worry, I don’t have any expectations.” This is true. Tonight is a big test for me. I’ve been away from the party scene for months. I need to prove to myself I can be this, be here, without getting out of control. Because if I can’t, I have a lot further to go than I realized.
    â€œI was going to say,” Finley says, prepping for her shot, “that I’m extremely competitive. Meaning, if you screw up”—she tosses the ball and sinks it, easy—“I might kick you off the team. But don’t take it personally.”
    A cheer erupts from the two girls beside us—the animal-noise girl and the Ivy League girl. Dima downs the cup of beer, and Finley leans closer to me. Her hair brushes over my arm. “So what’s your technique? Do you have any trick shots?”
    â€œYeah, well…” I start to say and then, “No.”
    She laughs. “At least