Now That I've Found You - Kristina Forest Page 0,18

platform, and Milo and I manage to get on just before the doors close. It’s really crowded, so we don’t get a seat. And that really sucks because my feet are killing me.

Milo leans against the door, and I stand in front of him, holding on to the pole. The train jerks when it takes off, and I stumble.

“Whoa, careful,” he says, reaching out a hand to steady me.

Embarrassed, I mumble, “I’ve got it, thanks.”

“You want to sit down?” he asks, eyeing my shoes. “We can switch train cars.”

Ha, nice try, musician boy. You and your manners won’t distract me from my mission.

“What I want is for you to admit what you want from my grandmother,” I say, leaning closer. “Just tell me the truth.”

“I already told you the truth,” he says, frowning. “The better topic is, what do you want from her?”

“Me?” My hand flies to my chest like an offended woman in Victorian-era England. “What are you talking about?”

“Yeah, you,” he says. “You’re trying to force her to go to that ceremony when she clearly doesn’t want to. That’s pretty messed up.”

I suck in a breath, literally speechless. Finally, I manage, “How dare you eavesdrop on our conversation!” People turn to look at us, and I lower my voice to a whisper. “That is not okay.”

“I wasn’t eavesdropping; you were shouting. I could hear you all the way upstairs.”

“Gigi understands why I need her to be there,” I say.

He raises an eyebrow. “Does she? Because it didn’t sound like she did.”

“You’ve got a lot of nerve,” I say, narrowing my eyes.

He sighs and holds up his hands in surrender. “Okay, I think we’ve gotten off on the wrong foot. We should try to get along for your grandma’s sake, so let’s call a truce. Friends?”

He holds out his hand, and once again I just stare at it.

“No,” I say.

“No?” he repeats. “Is the idea of being my friend that unappealing?”

I frown at him. “Yes.”

“Let me guess,” he says, smiling slowly, “you have something against musicians.”

“Musicians are passionate people who are dedicated to their craft. As an actress, I can respect that. I’m not big on friends.”

He looks at me like I just admitted that I hate babies or those YouTube videos where tiger cubs play with puppies.

“‘Not big on friends’?” he repeats dubiously. “What does that even mean?”

I think of Simone and her bright smile. The way she laughed as we sat across from each other during lunch, or when we stayed up all night in my big, empty house. She was like my sister. Until she wasn’t.

“Some people prefer solitude,” I simply say.

“Hmm” is his only reply. He eyes me intently, and I don’t like the way it seems as if he’s trying to find some deeper meaning behind my words.

“What? Quit looking at me.”

“Sorry.” He turns away, not actually sounding sorry at all.

Behind me, two young boys walk through the subway car selling candy. Milo flags them down and offers a couple of dollars but refuses the candy. The boys smile, eagerly thanking him before moving on. Now it’s my turn to eye Milo. Apparently, musician boy is generous. He glances down and catches me staring. I shove my sunglasses farther up my nose and look away.

“I really was sorry to hear about all that stuff with Paul Christopher,” he suddenly says. “I’ve never liked any of his movies, to be honest. I think he’s overrated.”

I blink, taken aback at how straightforwardly he says this. Everyone else walks on eggshells around me when it comes to what happened with Paul Christopher.

“He’s not overrated,” I finally say, because it’s true. Paul Christopher is brilliant. It’s very rare for thrillers to win Best Picture at the Academy Awards, and he’s done it twice. That role in Deep Within would have changed my life.

“If you say so.” Milo shrugs and looks up to track our stop.

“What did you mean when you said that Gigi is lonely?” I ask.

He returns his attention to me and opens his mouth like he might explain. But instead he says, “That’s something you should talk to her about. We’re getting off next.”

Obviously, I’m not going to get any real answers out of Milo. As far as I’m concerned, my job here is done. For now.

The train comes to a stop at Christopher Street, and I follow Milo out onto the platform and up the steps aboveground. He starts leading me in one direction, but I stop. “Yeah, I’m not actually going with you,” I